The Edwards Effect?

[hedgetrimmer]

Is there an "Edwards Effect"? Below, I've listed the states where Edwards collected a percentage of the votes and whether or not I thought it may have affected the states primary. Of course this is more of the horse-race conjecture but, I could not resist.



Alabama.............1%...Effect Felt - No

Arizona.............5%...Effect Felt - Yes

Arkasas.............2%...Effect Felt - No

California..........4%...Effect Felt - Yes

Connecticut.........1%...Effect Felt - No

Georgia.............2%...Effect Felt - No

Illinois............2%...Effect Felt - No

Massachusetts.......2%...Effect Felt - No

Missouri............2%...Effect Felt - Yes

North Dakota........1%...Effect Felt - No

New Jersey..........1%...Effect Felt - No

New Mexico..........1%...Effect Felt - Yes

New York............1%...Effect Felt - No

Oklahoma...........10%...Effect Felt - Yes

Tennessee...........4%...Effect Felt - Possibly

Utah................3%...Effect Felt - No

SOURCE: http://politics.nytimes.com/election-guide/2008/results/demmap/index.html



We can see that in some states and the counties within there is an Edwards Effect. Overall I do not think the Effect will shape Delegate numbers. I do think the Effect is and will create an appearance of larger separations in numbers between the two candidates.

What do you think or know in these regards?

[frazzled]

1. I do not think there will be any Edwards effect

If he had endorsed someone before Super Tuesday it might have had some symbolic effect (or it might have thrown voters over to the non-endorsed candidate's side--that's how malleable this two-person race is). But from here on out, I don't think an endorsement would have any effect whatsoever. And his 27 delegates are no longer any kind of prize.

As for last night--I don't think it was much of a factor because it's not clear which candidate benefited or didn't from his small number of remaining votes.