Why the pressue on Edwards to endorse (Obama) immediately?

[jackson_dem]

Let's look at every other candidate who has dropped out.

Dodd
Biden
Kucinich
Richardson

Tancredo
Hunter
Tommy Thompson
Fred Thompson
Gilmore
Giuliani

Only Giuliani has endorsed and that is apparently because he is angling for Veep. None of the other rethugs and one of the Democrats who have dropped out have endorsed anyone. So why the pressure that Edwards MUST endorse and he MUST endorse Obama before Super Tuesday? Obama should win on his own merits on Super Tuesday. If he can't, tough. Edwards does not exist to help Obama's candidacy just as Obama didn't give a damn about splitting the "anti-Hillary" vote when he jumped into the contest at the last moment, which ultimately sunk Edwards' candidacy (without him Edwards would have won Iowa and been the main challenger to Hillary).

[pstans]

1. Tancredo, Hunter, Tommy Thompson have all endorsed

Tancredo endorsed Romney, Hunter endorsed Huckabee, and I think Thompson endorsed McCain.

[jackson_dem]

8. Thanks. What about the Democrats?

Biden? Dodd? Kucinich? Richardson?

Tancredo, Hunter are so irrelevant I can't recall their endorsement even making the news! Thompson endorsed McCain? Are you sure? Or do you mean Tommy?

[nonconformist]

2. Because Edwards had more supporters than all of those other people, combined.

Some people want Edwards to endorse so that their candidate presumably will pick up his voters.

I, for one, hope he doesn't endorse anyone.

[MercutioATC]

3. It's called traction.

Whomever Edwards endorses will get a surge. Timed correctly (and the thought here is that earlier is better)it creates increased inertia.

[jackson_dem]

9. In other words Edwards has to rescue the messiah Obama before Super Tuesday?

[MercutioATC]

10. I didn't say that....

...it's simple numbers. The more votes one gets in the primary, the better chance they have to be the nominee.

Seems like a simple concept to me...am I missing something in your question?

[jackson_dem]

14. Obamites want Edwards to create a surge for Obama

Somehow they feel St. Obama the Messiah is entitled to Edwards' support, which they demand be given in time to create a surge for Obama on Super Tuesday. These are the same folks who demanded Edwards withdraw to "help Obama." Oh, and before that? These are the same folks who swiftboated Edwards...

[MercutioATC]

17. Clinton would like the same thing. It's a simple numbers game.

I don't understand your seeming outrage. Candidates (and their supporters) want votes. Endorsement by a person with an established following is one good way to get them.

[jackson_dem]

19. How many Hillary supporters here are demanding Edwards MUST endorse Obama and do so immediately?

[golddigger]

37. I'd say about 3%...n/t

[golddigger]

36. LMAO!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[halobeam]

4. I'd put my phone on "silent" if I were him.

[Drunken Irishman]

5. I think there is pressure on Edwards AND Richardson to endorse.

And it isn't just coming from the Obama camp.

The rest? Well let's be realistic, Dodd, Biden and Kucinich have little support, especially Dodd and Biden, outside of their respective states. And while either's support would help woe supporters in Delaware and Connecticut, it doesn't really do much outside of that. Edwards, however, has consistently been a top-3 candidate and Richardson helps with the Hispanic community.

As for the Republican side, it's pretty much the same issue here, except I do believe Duncan Hunter endorsed Huckabee and Tancredo backs Romney. The rest? Well outside of Fred Thompson, they're no-bodies.

[NastyRiffraff]

6. Some of Obama's supporters believe he has a right to Edwards' endorsement

Those same people were urging him to get out of the race early on "to help Obama."

Guess what? John Edwards isn't, and never was, obligated to "help Obama." I think he'll endorse, or not, whoever keeps the pledge to make good the promise to make poverty a central issue in his or her campaign.

Obama winning on merits? Oh. My. God. Heresy! :sarcasm:

[patrice]

7. Because Edwards shines a light on what the problems are with the process.

The Machine wants itself validated by those it uses.

[Adelante]

11. I don't care who Edwards endorses or when, if ever

Obama isn't pressuring for an endorsement any more than Clinton is. They've pressured Biden and Richardson. It's what happens when a candidate drops out.

[jackson_dem]

12. There's a surprise!

:sarcasm:

Are Hillary supporters posting threads and numerous posts demanding Edwards endorse Hillary?

[patrice]

18. And telling Us what a loser Edwards is? nt

[jackson_dem]

23. Why is an endorsement from a "loser" such a big deal?

And why does a "winner" who beat Alan Keyes need an endorsement from a "loser" in time for Super Tuesday?

[patrice]

27. I could beat Alan Keyes. Why indeed???????????

I've been committed to the same issues that Edwards is leading the way on right now ALL OF MY LIFE.

I'm never going away. And I DON'T belong to anyone, let alone these self-appointed Masters.

Issues First! = BEFORE candidates!

Solidarity, Jackson Dem!

[jackson_dem]

30. I misunderstood your post

I'm with you completely! :toast:

I thought you were calling Edwards a loser but now I realize you were alluding to Obamites calling him that.

[patrice]

35. Obama-Borg. You SHALL be assimilated!

I'm not a quitter, especially when I feel so deeply why I've chosen whom I have.

The other two seem to be the same thing to me, except that I have experienced more insults from the Oborgs. Makes you wonder how many of those folks REALLY are for Obama, not the sort of thing I like to work around.

[aquart]

22. No. We don't have that spoiled brat sense of entitlement.

[jackson_dem]

24. Yup

Hillary supporters>Obamites

[DJ13]

13. No matter who he endorses, his endorsement (and his platform) loses clout....

....the longer he waits to endorse.

He's already lost many of his past Congressional endorsements and union support to Obama, and the longer he holds off the less weight his endorsement carries.

Before Feb 5th will be the golden time to endorse, where he might have some positive effect for whoever he chooses, and (most important) his delegates mean more now than after the 5th when over 2,000 more delegates will be distributed between Hillary and Obama.

If his campaign platform really meant anything to him, waiting to endorse weakens his ability to get some concessions from an active candidate towards furthering his stated goals.

[jackson_dem]

16. Not necessarily. It gives him more time to negotiate

No one, except for Giuliani, endorses the day after they drop out. This is mainly due to human reasons of disappointment in a dream shattered. We often forget they are all human.

[patrice]

20. Let's the core ID itself and its cohort more clearly. nt

[DJ13]

21. "It gives him more time to negotiate"

Give a man $100 who only has $150 and it means something.

Give that same $100 to a man with $30,000 and it means little.

Thats the essence of why endorsing before Feb 5th is of more importance to Edwards if his platform really meant anything to him.

His delegates are worth more now than after Super Tuesday when its 2,200 delegates are in the hands of Clinton and Obama.

[jackson_dem]

26. Giving an immediate endorsement would reduce the amount of concessions he can get

He would have to accept the better of the first deal he got if he did that. Waiting gives him time to come to terms with what happened and also to try to get the best deal possible. Edwards' endorsement will probably matter more after Super Tuesday. Right now both candidates are equal. After Super Tuesday we will have a front runner and it will probably be Hillary. Do you think Obama won't want Edwards' endorsement to give him a shot in the arm after Super Tuesday?

[DJ13]

29. "Giving an immediate endorsement would reduce the amount of concessions he can get"

If he had stayed in through Super Tuesday and had another 200 delegates, I would have agreed with that.

But the small number he has (in relation to what will be awarded Feb5th) isnt enough to play much of a king maker role if he holds out too long.

[jackson_dem]

31. It isn't so much about delegates but about the 15-20% of Democrats who supported him

The delegate race won't go to the convention now but where his supporters go will be critical.

[BeyondGeography]

32. I get it, he's not endorsing because he is in emotional pain

I'll lay off him, then.

Poor guy.

[jackson_dem]

34. He's human like all politicians

Although I understand that is a tough concept for supporters of Obama to accept. ;)

[bunnies]

15. What pressure?

Pressure from whom?

[Cameron27]

25. Do you think Edwards will endorse Obama?

I have my doubts after BO put out that nasty throw-back ad about universal health care and mandates.

[jackson_dem]

33. If he does it will probably be Obama

He does view Obama as "change" but notice that while he portrayed Hillary as representing the "status quo" he never said her platform represented more of the same. It was always more about changing the power structure in Washington. On the issues Obama and Hillary are the same so it may come down to "changing Washington" and health care. I am sure he, like most of us, is also going to consider electability and whether, as some claim, Obama can actually be a transformative president. If he thinks Obama is more electable and has potential to be transformative then he may go with Obama. It also won't surprise me if he does what everyone else did and not endorse anyone until the general.

[Vinca]

28. If Edwards endorses after Tuesday he'll be too late to sway

a significant number of voters to whichever candidate he favors and may jeopardize the end result he would prefer (other than himself as the nominee, of course). It's also risky because he could find himself irrelevant if he waits and that would be a huge loss to the country.