Interesting March 1, 2008 zuzu John Edwards has apparently asked his pledged delegates to stay with him until the convention. That means he intends to make sure that his progressive policy ideas are included in the party platform. Go John!
But through the county convention in Iowa, you mean, right? I don’t think he’s said it about the national convention in August.
True, this was information from one convention in Iowa, which seems to be the precursor to the national convention. But I’d imagine that he’d be doing the same with all his delegates (which is why I used “apparently”). Especially if things wind up being close at the national convention and he can exert some influence.
That’s awesome. I’m glad Edwards is using his influence and I hope he has an important role in either a Clinton or Obama administration.
Good for him. I was reluctant to support him when he was still in the running, but he’s showing some excellent commitment here. I hope he really does use it for good, and not just stick with the loose alliance he seemed to have with Obama toward the end of his campaign.
(comment in moderation above, so this might not make sense initially, sorry.) Not that I think it would necessarily be bad if he gave his delegates to Obama, I just hope he holds out for an issues-based commitment from either candidate, rather than just giving them to whoever he finds least unsatisfactory.
Maybe he hopes to get the VP spot. Especially if Clinton and Obama end up in a tie with neither having quite enough delegates to win.
I agree, Astraea — I would be proud (and I think the rest of the Democratic Party would be too) to have him as the attorney general or labor secretary under Clinton or Obama. Particularly the former, since I think he’d be pretty tenacious about investigating the politicization and corruption that has run rampant through all levels of the justice system over the last few years.
Not to be That Guy, but here’s a little parade-raining: Edwards has 26 pledged delegates — around 0.5% of the total delegate count. In the days after he dropped out, Hillary Clinton made the pilgrimage to NC to ask for his support, which might have helped her win over progressive voters before Super Tuesday; he wouldn’t give it. Obama then rescheduled his first meeting with Edwards. The upshot: he’s in no position to be a power broker at the convention, he refused to help Hillary when it would have meant something, and Obama has already signaled how uninterested he is in Edwards’ support. He might get on the ticket if the nominee wants help with the liberal southern white guy vote, but seeing as liberal southern white guys are in short supply these days …. I’d be more disappointed if Russ Feingold hadn’t provided a little perspective.
Doug, he’d be a great attorney general. I first heard the suggestion from Tom Hartman and I can’t agre emore.
That means he intends to make sure that his progressive policy ideas are included in the party platform. No, that means he’s hoping that Clinton and Obama essentially tie, and his little vote bloc can make the difference, so that he can swing/coerce/deal for a VP slot or a cabinet position. He doesn’t give a shit about his “progressive policy ideas”; if he did, as Russ Feingold so ably reminds us, he would have VOTED THAT WAY. Come on, idealism is fine, but when you see a dog humping someone’s leg, it’s not because the dog has a platonic love affair with the beautiful aesthetics of denim. He’s just trying to do a little business.
Think Edwards will return the favor and endorse Nader? Nader did support him before Edwards dropped out. I guess we’ll have to see.