John Edwards says he'll accept public financing

[DeepModem Mom]

Source: CNN

From Mark Preston and Robert Yoon
CNN Washington Bureau

ABOARD THE CNN ELECTION EXPRESS, New Hampshire (CNN) -- Former Sen. John Edwards Thursday said he will accept public financing for his presidential campaign, and challenged his chief rivals for the Democratic nomination, Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, to follow his lead.

"This is not about a money calculation," Edwards told CNN senior political correspondent Candy Crowley on his way to an event in Durham, New Hampshire. "This is about taking a stand, a principled stand, and I believe in public financing."...


With the third-quarter fundraising deadline just days away, Edwards emphasized he did not arrive at this decision because his Federal Election Commission report will show a drop-off in contributions from donors. "First of all, I got the money I need to run a serious campaign," he said. "I hope that the other two will join me. As I've said, Sen. Clinton said she is for public financing so she can step forward and show she actually means it."

Edwards is the first top-tier Democratic candidate to agree to this funding mechanism, and he noted it will include the primary and general elections. Although he has already begun raising money for the general election, federal law requires him to return those funds if he accepts public funding....

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/09/27/edwards.public.financing/index.html

[Kagemusha]

1. I'm sorry, I don't believe him. I can't believe him.

I'd be hard-pressed to believe anyone in his position making an announcement like this, especially because he had been raising money for the general election which he will now have to return. If this was such a big stand for principle, he would have made this announcement months ago and would not have sought ineligible money.

I don't enjoy speaking ill of a Democratic candidate, but this statement jumps the shark. I literally do not find his statement that his campaign's financial decision had no bearing on his decision, credible.

I'm sorry if that offends people, but I can't hold it in after reading Edwards' statement. My logic circuits find it lacking.

[brooklynite]

4. Early analysis suggests Richardson may beat him in 3rd qtr fundraising...

He may be seeing the handwriting on the wall and reacting accordingly.

[Kagemusha]

5. That, I would believe.

And had Edwards not made a statement that claims that any such thing was not a consideration, and that any claim that it was such a consideration, is incorrect and untrue, I might have believed Edwards, too.

[geek tragedy]

2. He's now unelectable. We can't have a candidate

who fights the Republican with one arm tied behind his back and the other in a sling.

[skyounkin]

3. This has been updated on Dailykos-

He says he will only take the public financing IF the rethug does. Or that's how I understand it.

[Freddie Stubbs]

6. Sounds like someone is having trouble raising money

[olddad56]

7. He is too honest to be President anyway.

probably not even a drunk, cocaine addict.