GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - John Edwards may have endorsed Democrat Barack Obama for president on Wednesday, but the former North Carolina senator saved his most gushing praise for the likely loser in the White House nominating race: Hillary Clinton.
“It is very, very hard to get up every day and do what she’s done. It is hard to go out there and fight and speak up when the odds turn against you,” he said.
Edwards, a former North Carolina senator and vice presidential candidate, told Clinton on Tuesday that he intended to endorse Obama.
Which he did — to applause from the crowd of some 12,000. But a good portion of his words focused on the former first lady.
“She’s a leader in this country not because of her husband, but because of what she has done,” Edwards said, referring to former President Bill Clinton.
“We are a stronger party because Hillary Clinton is a Democrat.”
Whew. Clinton’s campaign brushed off the endorsement, which she had also sought. Edwards’ wife, Elizabeth, who has praised Clinton’s health care plan, was not present and has not backed a candidate.
Obama, who introduced Edwards and took the stage again when he was done, included Clinton in his words, too, and said the election was not about him, her, or Edwards.
“John Edwards and I believe in a different America. Hillary Clinton believes in a different America. The Democratic Party believes in a different America,” he said.
Perhaps he’s paving the way for her endorsement once he has wrapped up the nomination for good?
Click here for more Reuters 2008 campaign coverage.
Photo: Reuters/Jeff Haynes - Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama shakes hands with former Democratic challenger John Edwards at a rally with supporters in Grand Rapids, Michigan on May 14.
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It’s time for all democrats to ban together and support the democratic nominee for the fall. This is business, not personal!
United we stand, divided we fall. And that’s just what the republicans want us to do.
- Posted by RootyDear Nana,
in reference to an above statement to me. I do not dissagree with Hillary Clinton at this point. She tends to be far more experienced than Obama. On which the other hand she is of course, not exactly the strong built face of America either. But the issue at hand is not WHICH CANTIDATE is right, it’s the entire two party system that has become fickle and incapable of making any real choices. That in ITSELF is destroying constitutional right. Believe, me, could I be able to make politics a personal issue at age 12, I would have.
and even then, I was a supporter of Al Gore in the 8th grade.
I care not for the greater than though aspect of an older more right wing approach to together democracy…Please spare me the person insult, and concentrate on what actually matters, which is the future and betterment in the US as a democracy, not a Republic, as George Bush has let it become.
- Posted by SarahI am so disgusted by Edward’s endorsement of Obama. The entire previous week he told many cable and major networks that it was important for him to not endorse anyone and stay out of the process. What a liar! Hillary has gotten the shaft since this primary run started. I am a very educated 49 year old democrat. I, too, will either vote for McCain or stay home. I will not vote for a man who does not seem to love this country. And worse yet, I wouldn’t be able to watch his America-hating wife stand beside him.
- Posted by Shelly“HILLARY IS LIKE KOBE BRYANT OF LAKERS.”
Yep, I see the parallels. It’s a pretty even divide of people that like Kobe as can’t stand him. Same with Hillary. She’s a polarizer. You either love her or hate her.
Does the country really need another four years of polarization, this time even beyond the normal partisan politics that we’ve been stuck with since the first Clinton administration?
I appreciate Edwards attempt (conscious or not) to acknowledge that both sides of this race are working hard. That’s the kind of peacemaking that’s going to be required to get the Democratic party moving again after the primaries. If the Clintonites can’t reconcile when this thing is done, the party is pretty well screwed. It sure seems like polarization is the only comfortable spot for HRC. If her supporters take that same position, kiss this election goodbye. If they don’t get over themselves and vote for Obama when it counts, McCain will have an easy road to the Oval Office.
- Posted by phlipPolitics as usual — the endorsement was engineered to crush Clinton’s news coverage. Is this Obama’s high road to the White House? How noble. Obama is not content to defeat her, he seeks to humiliate her. They can mouth all the niceties they want in the effort to woo us back into the fold, their actions speak louder than words.
- Posted by TaraBig shock! The one young, handsome man endorses the other younger, handsome man to beat the older, more experienced woman symbolizing our first real chance for a woman president. Welcome to “Sexism 101″ everyone!!! Perhaps they’d rather have Hillary be the White House chef “baking their cookies” than serve our country as president. But oh wait…the press doesn’t care that she won WV….they’re too busy reporting on the endorsement of the guy who lost twice now. Great precendent with our press, huh? Let’s let our American press decide who your nominee is by highlighting this story and burying the other? Like giving them this kind of unchecked power won’t come back to haunt all of us someday…at some point….when we don’t like their NEXT choice FOR us!
- Posted by gaypastorPlease, give me a break if Mr. Edwards had endorsed Hillary you would have nothing but praise for him. But since he endorsed Obama you can’t stand it. What are you going to say should Elizabeth endorse Obama as well are you going to turn on her too? Get over it! OBAMA OUR NEXT PRESIDENT
- Posted by chayoDid Obama ever explained to people why his Gas Tax failed in Illinois? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Did Obama ever detailed in clarity the economic issues we’re facing and how he will address those issues? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Not that I know of and I’ve been keeping track of the election since January. The green job proposal came from one of Hillary’s Bright Ideas and Blue Print. God Help us if he becomes the nominee and much worse the president.
- Posted by neil1785HILLARY IS LIKE KOBE BRYANT OF LAKERS IN 2002/2003. YOU THOUGHT THEIR OPPONENT IS A SURE WIN DOWN TO THE LAST MINUTE…BUT WAIT KOBE DID A 3-POINT SHOOT SUCCESFULLY AT THE VERY LAST SECOND. LAKERS WON AND HILLARY WILL WIN EVENTUALLY.
Hang in there Hillary. A lot of people are still behind you. Those who voted for Obama back in Feb. are feeling buyes remorse in light of the serious issues that he has had since March. I saw her interview last night on CNN. She clearly detailed the issues on economy and her gas tax proposal.
OBAMA WAS WRONG ON GAS TAX. HE IS STUPID ON APPLIED ECONOMICS.
- Posted by neil1785http://www.reuters.com/article/blogBurst /politics?type=politicsNews&w1=B7ovpm21 IaDoL40ZFnNfGe&w2=B7tmRCRJt2YFzDsa7MJ1Cb lL&src=blogBurst_politicsNews&bbPostId=B CPU7bksptwDCz3q7RHPh1SBUAzSrY29vwGiB3iLr NpLtd9D&bbParentWidgetId=B94DflL2bLsuzDP LZYiSAqaT
I’m am once again disappointed in this democraic primary. John edwards should have stayed out of it until it’s over. Someone had better start including the average American woman in their speeches other than Hillary. Obama will really have to rock my world before Nov. in order to get my vote! As of today if Obama is the candidate, I’m just not voting for the first time in my life!!!!!!!!
- Posted by Linda McCabeIt’s good to know that Mr. Obama has the support of John Edwards. I know that had to make Mr. Obama smile during a time when so many are speaking about an American State where race played a major factor on the outcome. I don’t blame Ms. Clinton at all for playing this out all the way through. The American voters in all States deserve the right to have their votes counted. Based on the 2004 election, I don’t feel Mr. Edwards has the testicular fortitude to be Vice President, however I do feel Ms. Clinton has displayed the strength and determination necessary to run in this race what every the outcome may be.
- Posted by D From DallasTo Julianne Elizabeth is not a superdelegate nor a delegate so the fact you are waiting to see who she endorses is irrelevant because she has no say on the matter. And only highlights your sexism. You refuse to let go purely on the basis she’s a woman. And for Andy let me get this straight. You say you were and Edwards supporter but now you are disappointed because he’s not endoring Clinton? ARE YOU FOR REAL!?!?? Even during the campaigning when he was more influential the difference between Clinton and Edwards was clear. The similarities in programs between Obama and Edwards was even MORE clear. So for you to toss logic out the window suggests to me you are a Clinton supporter trying to create some illusion that Hillary was picked on (boo hoo) because she was a woman. Let’s be real. Hillary’s derailment was her own doing. She road her husband’s coattails, mismanaged her campaign, lied, lied oh yeah and lied some more, projected her accusations onto Obama and let her feeling of entitlement and ARROGANCE to the office and lack of strategy and race baiting is what caused her failure. NOT Obama and NOT the media.
- Posted by Avant StrangelPosted by Nyte:
“One final word, for all those that care if the democrats win in November, be cautious about how you treat Clinton and her supporters. Now is the time to open up your arms and welcome them in.”
Oops, it’s way too late for that. The insults have been very revealing. You don’t really think we’re really that stupid? Well, probably you do.
Obama can’t win in November. It’s funny that you’re just figuring that out and that you’ve shot yourself in the foot.
- Posted by cap.hillNow? Edwards endorses him now? WOW! How very brave of him! This is just another example of how wimpy some Democrats can be. I’m sorry but this makes me wish Hillary still had a “fighting” chance. Hmm…..now that my help it no longer needed and I can see who is going to win I’ll choose a side. When Ted Kennedy is a braver man than you…..well you’ve got a problem.
- Posted by michaelOh grow up you lot: of course Edward’s had to endorse someone. Good for him!
It would have been political suicide to back the loser Clinton, who has a reputation that follows her like a bad smell. why would he want to play lacky to her power-mad monster??
Who on earth would want someone like her as president?
Obama is the only choice for the sane, morally competent thinker.
America will see the light - Obama and Edwards are the right choice.
- Posted by Keith M WarwickLet us imagine for one moment that the roles were reversed and Hillary had the lock on the nomination…. Obama would be getting run over to give up his run…. I have noticed that every time Hillary gets an endorsement… Wow that’s great she deserved it and every time Obama gets an endorsement, they are traitors and they are running over and piling on this poor girl… If you want to talk about piling on….. How about 168 Superdelegates backing Clinton before the race even started ? I find it laughable that so many people are in denial about Hillary losing this nomination….. It is not so much about Obama winning, it is about her losing.
- Posted by RonHillary has been all things for all people… Someday they will do a montage of how she morphed into a different character for every State. That will show you how truthful she really is. Since we don’t know what is going through her head… we will have to see what will happen… my guess is that she will take this right up to the convention and the Democratic Party will implode. It could have been a good year….. I you really want to know the real Clinton, check out the documentary that Dick Morris made about her.