Why did Edwards drop out of the race when he did?

[Recursion]

Unsubstantiated speculations are welcome; I'm trying to come up with a reason why he did and then did not endorse another candidate.

[SKKY]

1. I think he realized his message wasn't gaining traction...

...and saw the writing on the wall that this was going to be a contest between HRC and BO and that his campaign was, as they say, surplus to requirements.

[dkf]

2. I think he wanted an honest debate between Obama and Clinton

and realized he would skew the results while feeling he couldn't generate the resources to win.

[Occam Bandage]

3. The longer he went,

the more money he spent and the more in-party goodwill he'd burn through. It's generally considered etiquette to drop out once it becomes clear you're unviable; that keeps you from acting as a spoiler or wasting the money of Democratic donors.

However, he found himself with a small stack of delegates, a decent level of in-party recognition, and with a tight race in front of him. He decided he'd wait a bit to endorse, to drive up the value of his endorsement.

Things couldn't have gone better for his plan. The two candidates remaining were neck-and-neck. Both were banging down his door trying to get an endorsement; both were offering him nice packages (probably A.G. and allowing him to head up a poverty task force). And he didn't know which one was going to win--he certainly didn't want to back the loser.

My guess is that he believed that Clinton was a stronger fighter than Obama, and that Obama was more progressive/change-oriented. Unfortunately for him, his Washington-insider-skewed perspective of Clinton as an electoral savant colored his perception of the race. He thought it was Clinton edging Obama up until it became apparent that Obama was strongly leading Clinton.

His endorsement is not worth much at the moment. Perhaps he's waiting to see what happens March 4th. Perhaps he decided Clinton/Obama, and the other camp cut a deal with him not to endorse. We won't know for a while, if ever.

[housewolf]

4. Joe Trippi was on PBS' NOW tonight

and he alluded to something about that, without really saying so specifically - David Brancachio asked him "What happened to your guy?". And Joe Trippi started talking about how Obama & Clinton "sucked all the air" out of the room, they weren't getting enough media attention, the campaign wasn't moving anywhere, no momentum, I guess implying that they felt the campaign was lost to them and might as well get out now rather than drag it on.

[Nutmegger]

5. Damn it the one night I miss NOW.

Thanks for that, I'll have to check out the podcast. :)

[billbuckhead]

8. The corporate media purposely ignored Edwards for variety of reasons

One, because they hated his goals and two, because he was by far the most electable in the general election.

[quantass]

6. Edwards: "What do we have to do to get some attention....light ourselves on fire?"

a real quote from edwards to his aide way back.

[wundermaus]

7. The official "spin" on it...

But I'm not buying it...

"Edwards’s Campaign Manager Bonior Explains Sudden Departure from Presidential Race

John Edwards has dropped out of the presidential race after running what has been called the most progressive Democratic campaign since Jesse Jackson’s run in the 1980s. We speak to Edwards’s national campaign manager, former Michigan Rep. David Bonior."

http://i2.democracynow.org/2008/1/31/with_edwards_departure_will_poverty_and

[MonkeyFunk]

9. Because he hadn't won a primary

and there were no wins in sight. It really is that simple.

[grantcart]

11. especially in South Carolina - there was just too many doubling of demographics

with both Clinton and Obama

[nonconformist]

10. I think Ted Kennedy pressured him to quit "for the good of the party" nt

[wundermaus]

12. It was a matter of priorities... And an offer no one could refuse...

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=5889905

http://www1.aoc.state.nc.us/www/calendars.Criminal.do?county=670&court=BTH&defendant=small%2Ccarol&start=0&navindex=0&submit=Submit+Query

(How much do you love your kids?)

[desertflamingo]

13. yup.

[MonkeyFunk]

17. Oh good lord, you really believe that?

He was polling around 15% - he hadn't won any primaries, and there were no wins in sight. That's the simple, logical explanation.

[wundermaus]

20. Do you really believe everything you are told?

I don't. He literally quit in mid sentence. Like someone stuck a pistol up along side his kid's head and pulled the trigger - with an empty chamber. Want to try 2 out of 3?

[MonkeyFunk]

23. Which primaries did he win?

Which primaries was he going to win?

[Breeze54]

14. He realized he screwed up by his angry diatribes and no campaign support.

What good is an endorsement after Super Tuesday? It doesn't mean jack!

[tritsofme]

15. He just hadn't learned enough about poverty to be elected president, he needed to head back to the

hedge fund.

[Adelante]

16. He was losing

It was expected he would drop out if he didn't win Iowa or South Carolina, and when he didn't, he dropped out. He needed the white working class voters and Clinton had them sewn up. He held appeal for the left and had cultivated union brass support, but that wasn't enough to make up for a thin constituency everywhere else.

[Prefer]

18. He was a phony

And as soon as he realized it wasn't going to give him the power he craved he stopped "working for the poor" and hightailed it back to his mansion. He didn't even honor his promise to stay in till Super Tuesday.

[caledesi]

19. He is NOT! Obama/Edwards '08 NT

[sniffa]

21. To stop Hillary

[Renew Deal]

22. He was asked to leave by the party

The party knew it would be tight delegate wise. 3 candidates would have almost guaranteed this thing going to the convention.

[mattclearing]

24. Link please? n/t

[LiberalAndProud]

25. I have thought that Elizabeth's health was a consideration.

[JVS]

26. lack of votes.