Could John Edwards Decide the Democratic Nominee for President?

[babsbunny]

A Buzzflash Editorial

http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/editorblog/045

With only 26 delegates to his name at the time he "suspended" his campaign for president, it is unlikely that John Edwards will be the final factor that puts Clinton or Obama over the top, but not impossible given how close the candidate count is.

First, a little delegate counting background. Three of the BuzzFlash staff were on a DNC phone call on Friday about the technical issues surrounding the election, counting and seating of delegates. (For the record, the DNC staff was scrupulously non-partisan and professional.) First of all, that threshold figure you see for obtaining the nomination does not include the controversial Michigan and Florida delegates.

[mmonk]

1. If the election is within that delegate margin.

[Shine]

2. I'm skeptical he could do THAT much w/ only 25 delegates. Isn't it up to the super-delegates, anyway

:shrug:
THEY are the ones I'm most concerned about...

[iamjoy]

3. Imagine This Scenario

We go to the convention without a nominee. At this time, Clinton supporters and Obama supporters are so ticked at each other from the long nasty primary campaign that neither one of them is willing to change to the other. In walks John Edwards. There's little rancor towards him at this point, because he "suspended" his campaign and stepped out of the fray. He can be a very inspiring speaker. He gets enough delegates disenchanted with the others to switch to him.

Of course, that scenario is unlikely and would almost certainly result in a Republican victory in November. I'd always considered John Edwards more likely than Clinton or Obama to beat the Republican candidate, but that was assuming a fair primary in which our candidate reflected the will of the people, not 1,000 or so delegates. NO, what is even worse is that it may be decided by the Super Delegates.

[Benhurst]

4. It looks as though Clinton, Edwards and Obama are going to have

one thing in common: Each had more Democratic voters vote against him or her than for him or her.

[karynnj]

5. I think all he can do is free them or not and make an endorsement

that they do not have to follow. Freeing them allows them to vote for HRC or Obama on the first ballot. I doubt they would all follow Edwards' choice.

[frazzled]

6. Well, that would be worse than just a superdelegate decision

There are 800 superdelegates. John Edwards has 26 delegates. By the way, none of them would be bound to support who Edwards recommended anyway. And even elected delegates can switch their votes: no one is going to arrest them on the floor of the convention. It's happened before: though not en masse.