Can Edwards play the kingmaker by endorsing someone following his inevitable 3rd place SC finish?

[Unsane]

Assuming Obama wins SC, would a subsequent Edwards endorsement help him going into Feb 5th? Or do we think Edwards will stay on until the bitter end?

[jzodda]

1. The pundits seem to think he will stay past SC and maybe beyond Feb 5th

For no other reason then the possibility to play kingmaker at convention time if there is no clear nominee by then. If a clear nominee comes out of Feb 5th then he drops out conventional pundit wisdom suggests. I suppose it makes sense from his perspective if you want to influence the process as much as possible.

[2rth2pwr]

2. ___

[Unsane]

3. lol

[Lucinda]

4. He says he'll stay in.

Edwards supporters will likely make their own choices if he does choose to drop out. One of the pollsters (It's late and I can't remember who it was) said the poll drops for JE and Hillary's increases show some supporters making the move already.

[Egnever]

6. hillary got 4 out of 5 of the edwards supporters today

In my precinct after the realignment. Of course other places it went opposite. I don't think you can say where they will fall confidently.

[Lucinda]

8. I agree.

The pollster said he made the assumption based strictly on numbers. Hillary increased the amount Edwards decreased and Obama was unchanged.

I agree that it's impossible to gauge how voters will shift should JE withdraw.

[Skidmore]

11. So much for Edwards being a fighter for the people.

If Edwards people, are switching to the corporate candidate, I don't want to hear more about the anger of the people on this board.

[Egnever]

5. Edwards will stay in untill we have a clear winner

Up until that time he controls the nomination and can bargain for whatever he wants. If we get a clear winner between Obama and hillary he will drop out. I guarentee it.

He is going for VP at this point. If it stays this tight all the way through he can demand it and get it.

If either one of them pulls away from the other though his power dissapears. So watch for him to make his move acording to what the others do.

[cboy4]

7. You know, it's arrogant posts like this that make me hope

Edwards doesn't endorse anyone, if and when he drops out.

[2rth2pwr]

9. kick, I still have some popcorn left. nt

[Yukari Yakumo]

10. Not exactly...

By the time SC comes, I wouldn't be too surprised to see most of his supporters abandon him. He's fast becoming irrelevant. Of the 47 delegates decided since Iowa, Edwards has won 4 of them.

And then the issue of how much money he has left. Does he even have the money to be competitive? He may say he's in it 'til the end, but that might be a check he can't cash.

[Tennessee Gal]

12. I don't think Edwards as an ounce of interest in playing king maker.

I will stand behind him all the way. I am not giving up and the other two candidates remaining do not interest me at all.