ARLINGTON, Va. - 
Some of Hillary Clinton’s supporters were mystified when she was nearly two hours late last Thursday for a rally at a local high school.
Clinton fan Jenny Morgans, 17, said she was a little annoyed at the delay but would still vote for her and chalked up the tardiness to Clinton’s “celebrity image.”
While the Clinton family is well-known for its tardiness over the years, it turns out the reason for the delay may have been a secret mission to North Carolina to meet with John Edwards, the former senator of that state and previously one of Clinton’s erstwhile rivals in the contest to become the Democratic presidential nominee.
Aides to the New York senator on Monday confirmed the meeting with Edwards had taken place but would not say what they discussed.
Edwards, who made fighting poverty the top theme of his campaign, exacted pledges from both Clinton and rival Barack Obama to take up that cause but he didn’t immediately grant an endorsement to either of the candidates.
Though Edwards failed to drum up enough voter support to be competitive with either Clinton or Obama, his message of standing up to lobbyists and big corporations resonated with a number of voters.
If Edwards were to grant his endorsement to one of the two, it could help give a boost to that candidate in an extremely close contest, especially if he also encourages his delegates to offer their backing as well.
Click here for more Reuters 2008 campaign coverage.
- Photo credit: Reuters/Lee Celano (Edwards announcing his withdrawal in late January.)
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30 comments so far
I hope J. Edwards will back H. Clinton -They would even make a good team for election. I don’t believe B. Obama has enough experience - also, Obama’s wife is championing health care and Hillary tried to get a health care system 16 years ago and I am sure she would nhave the best plan,so come on John support Hillary.
- Posted by Wanda ConradHillary is corrupt and can’t win. Impossible. Obama will choose Edwards for vice and beat McCain by 20 points in Nov.
- Posted by jonesJohn Edwards should support Sen. Barack Obama, because of his own political views and because of his passion to end poverty. I would be very dissanpointed if he endorses Sen. Hillary Clinton.
Hillary Clinton is just not ready to become president, she receives more money from Washington lobbyists than any candidate in this race, she trails John McCain consistently in polls, she is not inspiring to my generation and has the wrong kind of experience, one that would put two families in the White House for over 25 years. She has shown she would do anything to get to the White House, she is focused in tearing each other down instead of lifting this country up.
The assumption that John Edwards could become Sen. Barack Obama’s VP is exciting. They would become one strong voice for Change in Washington, not only a Change of party in the White House, but Change We Can Believe in, Change that asks my generation what they can do for their country and then achieve great goals. This Change is possible.
- Posted by Horacio CoutiñoEdwards should endorse Obama. Obama has the best message for changing the US and pointing it in a new direction. Clinton, on the other hand, represents the status-quo politics in Washington. She keeps emphasizing her so-called experience, but that strategy keeps her focused on the past, not on the future.
Only Obama can beat McCain.
- Posted by David G.Actually, upon reflection, I think John Edwards should endorse the candidacy of Obama. The HRC machine must grind to a halt if our nation’s democracy is to regain its vitality. Put an end to dynasties, and you’ll do a lot toward ameliorating poverty.
- Posted by Wanda ConradI would like to live in this country during an Obama presidency. His message of hope, and unity is beautiful. Think ahead to our shattered national pride being reassembled. Obama’s ability to inspire together with young people living today can repair our nations reputation in foreign countries. I’m sorry that Hillary and Obama are against each other because I believe her experience and work ethic are more than sufficient, but her ability to inspire is not lacking or absent. Her experience can’t make up for how contrived she seems. I find it hard to trust her.
- Posted by Mary MclellanEdwards should support Hillary. The bluecollar, working class, elderly, less educated voters are firmly supporting Hillary - they are her base. They know she can tackle poverty.
The liberal elite want to replace one extreme (GWB) with another (BHO). It’s clear to see Obama’s supporters earn more and have higher education - the liberal elite of the party favor him.
- Posted by joseObama-Edwards would be the real “dream ticket” for democrats.
- Posted by BarbuThey could change America and the world.
Clinton is a name of the past. Dynasties have nothing to do with democracy.
I agree, an Obama/Edwards ticket would be beautiful. My family has been talking about it since December. I will also be disappointed if he picks Hillary. I will lose my faith in Edwards- she stands for everything he stands against- money from lobbists/status quo/corrupt politics.
- Posted by SarahEdwards and HRC is a better match. They both understand you need to mandate health care to make it work. The proposal Obama has put forth has failure written all over it as it has too many gaps. If you do not mandate health care you still have people showing up at emergency rooms not covered and once again we the taxpayers cover that. Their policies are very similar with the Edwards actually being even more comprehensive plus they both match up on union support. While I think Obama’s strategy of going places that Dem’s never go (small red states) it is the ultimate uncalculated risk come November.
- Posted by JamieJohn Edwards is a perfect fit for Hillary Clinton. He knows what lies ahead and he knows who would be the best equipped to achieve it. I would love to see John Edwards working with Hillary Clinton.
- Posted by cbI have been watching the election campaign closely and it is a difficult decision for the american people. Obama offers hope and change, Clinton offers experience and is already a known individual on the world stage. Obama/Edwards would be quite dramatic but such policy changes can create fear, confusion and mistakes. Clinton/Edwards would create a balance of ying/yang, so changes would be slower but more thoughtout and balanced. They say ” better the devil you know? ” Lets hope the American people make the right choice and we can live in a world of tolerance, peace and security.
- Posted by jamieJohn Edwards should back Hillary Clinton. Obama has twisted the facts about 2 themes which were central to John Edwards’ campaign… universal healthcare (Obama’s plan is NOT universal and will fail without mandates) and not taking money from lobbyists (Obama does, he has found MANY loopholes). Hillary is the most experienced, proven candidate and the true Democrat we need to change our course from the failed legacy of GWB. This will not be CHANGE! like Obama is shouting for, it is change which comes slowly and through a lot of hard work. Obama is simply not prepared or ready to be President of a complex nation in a complex world. Hillary is. I think Edwards knows first-hand that it takes more than beautiful words, soaring rhetoric, voting “present” and roaring crowds to be a leader. His endorsement will mean a lot. I hope he gives his wholehearted recommendation to Hillary.
- Posted by LizThe Wall Street crowd does not like John Edwards and wanted him out of the picture. Hillary is out of money and unable to inspire her corporate backers to dump any more money into her campaign.
The idea of a populist such as John Edwards on the ticket would be Wall Street’s worst nightmare. Just imagine Edwards suing an HMO before a jury for malpractice or suing WalMart, Exxon, Halliburton, the Carlyle Group etc. By acting like she is trying to connect with Edwards, Hillary is trying to wring some more money out of her base of Bill’s pardoned felons and soon to be indicted backers. Obama could use Edwards delegates more than Hillary.
I expect that the right wing neocons will stage some sort of terrorist crisis event shortly before the November elections in the hopes of distracting voters from noticing the economic mess, the failures of IRAQ and Afghanistan etc. The only way to make a case for a tired old do nothing politician like McCain is to play the national security card.
If its Billary running against McCain, she will again break down in tears on national TV and immediately support the new neocon war on terror. If its Obama, he will stay on message and continue to point out that the economy sucks and also point that McCain’s spending 5 years locked up as a POW doesn’t automatically make him a military expert.
- Posted by John RowseCome on people wake up and smell the coffee. Clinton has a politcal track record of getting things done dating back to the Nixon administration. Obama has only a couple of years as a Senator. Period. With Clinton you get her husband thrown in as a freebee. And in case if you’ve forgotten the Clinton administration that brought us one of the greatest times of prosperity this Country has ever experienced!
The Clinton Administratio brought us:
a Strong Dollar!
Low Unemployment
A Strong Economy
A Strong Stock Market
A Surplus as opposed to a Deficit
Good Foreign Relations and much, much more.
Was this so bad? We could do worse. A lot worse! Our Country cannot afford to take a chance on just putting any candidate into office - not now - we need someone who not only knows how to get things done but has a track record of prior success. If Edwards is smart, he will go with Clinton!
- Posted by Craig SmithCome on people wake up and smell the coffee. Clinton has a political track record of getting things done dating back to the Nixon administration. Obama has only a couple of years as a Senator. Period. With Clinton you get her husband thrown in as a freebee. And in case if you’ve forgotten it was the Clinton administration *that brought us one of the greatest times of prosperity this Country has ever experienced!
The Clinton Administratio brought us:
*A Strong Dollar that enabled us to buy more than we can now!
*Low Unemployment
*A Strong Economy
*A Strong Stock Market
*A Surplus as opposed to a Deficit
*Low Oil and Gas prices!
*Good Foreign Relations and much, much more.
Was this so bad? We could do worse. A lot worse! Our Country cannot afford to take chances on putting just any candidate into office - not now - we need someone who not only knows how to get things done but has a track record of prior success. If Edwards is smart, he will go with Clinton!
- Posted by Craig Smithobama / edward …the hell w/ old hillary
- Posted by amcHRC (and Bill) will be ready to lead us from day one. All this mania about Obama’s message of “hope” and “unity” is simply ridiculous. How does that translate into his ability to be a better president? A president of our powerful nation must be a visionary, but s/he also needs experience to execute his/her vision. Obama entered national politics only in 2006! Let’s play it safe and go with Hillary.
And, one more thing, I implore you all to stop paying attention to biased media, esp. MSNBC. Go out and meet/ listen to these two candidates if you can, watch the debates, study their policies, and make your own objective decision. Don’t let these media juggernauts brainwash you to the point of making the decision for you.
Phila, PA.
- Posted by Timothy C.An Obama/Edwards ticket would be just terrific and it is about all I can see standing against McCain who has a strong record. Hillary keeps going on about experience but her experience also is with the Whitewater Conspiracy, which somehow was washed under the rug because Bill decided to have an affair. We had a real conspiracy scandal and Bill’s little romps were more in the headlines etc. We got played. I want to see change and some new blood in there that hasn’t got this criminal history etc would be nice. Obama’s platform could use a bit of work but if Edwards joined with him as VP, it would remedy a lot of it and make Obama a very solid candidate.
- Posted by TJEdwards risks losing a lot of credibility if he backs Hillary. Imagine this ‘populist warrior’ backing a former Walmart corporate board member. I wouldn’t by it.
Hillary and Bill have had their moment in the sun - time to move on America.
- Posted by StephenMy heart is in my mouth these days - to think that America has learned nothing from the Bush years!
Obama’s charisma does not make him a qualified canidate in my eyes. Al Gore worked a crowd the same way Obama does; look what he turned out to be.
We’d better wake up soon. Neither Obama or McCain will be good for this country, or for the world.
- Posted by DDRI agree! Obama/Edwards would be a dream team!
- Posted by AmyHillary is too polarizing, you either love her or hate her! I’m of the latter.
It is true Republicans (who aren’t happy with McCain)would vote for Obama not Hillary, most of them can’t stand her!
All of you who continue to question Obama’s specifics obviously have not fully listened to one of his stump speeches, watched him in interviews, or read his web site. Obama has wonderful well thought out plans for this country. The only thing he doesn’t have that Billary have is debt owed to lobbyists, as well as the corrupt tactics of the old Washington politics. If you want to know how someone will run the country, look at how they run their campaign. Obama started from nothing, no name recognition, no establishment support, and no malicious campaign tactics, and yet he is prevailing. Hillary’s big argument for her ability to beat McCain is that she has been vetted and tested, and that she has already stood the negative adds they will run on Obama. Please, you don’t think there is a huge file of information they (the Republicans) are gathering on her, just waiting to throw it all out there? The Republican’s mouths are watering at the thought of going up against the Clintons. Remember Whitewater, Vince Foster and Lewinsky? Well, how many years have passed since then, how many shady operations have the Clintons been involved in since then? If you don’t know the answer to that question you will find out if she is nominated because the Republicans are holding in their hands just waiting to expose it.
- Posted by SarahIf Senator Clinton is so experienced why did she lack the good judgment to read the NIE reports on Iraq before her vote in support of the war? Why didn’t she read the Patriot Act before she voted for it? Why didn’t she fight the illegal wiretapping of phones? Why hasn’t she filibustered every conservative judge this administration has put in the pipeline?
The Schrub’s father was a very experienced politician, but he was a lousy President. As I recall in 1992 then Governor Clinton ran against Mr. Bush and his lack of ‘vision’ not on Governor Clinton’s wealth of experience. Senator Clinton voted to support the attack on Iraq for the sole purpose of insulating herself from Republican attacks when she ran for President. Is this the type experienced judgment from day one she will give us? Will more American soldiers and families have to pay the ultimate sacrifice so she can prove she is tough? Will the future have to continue to pay our debts so our Presidents can prove they are macho enough?
The nation needs to move beyond red and blue states. I know that President Eisenhower’s daughter is starting a Republicans for Obama and if he can inspire hope in those on the other side of the isle that is a positive. Senator Clinton if the party nominee will not be able to bring both sides back together.
The hopes of America is what President Johnson called the nation to do: “So let us from this moment begin our work so that in the future men will look back and say: It was then, after a long and weary way, that man turned the exploits of his genius to the full enrichment of his life.” Barrack Obama represents the best hope to lead the Nation in that direction.
- Posted by RobertEarlier, I started to read blogs with the “naive” idea that they would help me to become better informed. Unfortunately, 85% of the blogs are nothing more than stupid nasty remarks.
When I decided to check things out myself, I came across an article written in the Chicago Sun Times. It is about the Rezko/Obama 19 year relationship. To read only one article only makes one wonder about their relationship. So far I have read about 52. Each suggests the possibility of shady deals. Unfortunately, they all end up saying: To date there is no actual proof of any specific thing ! ! ! Now that Rezko is in jail and will soon go to trial, one of two things should happen. One, Obama simply has poor judgment because of his continuing a long term relationship with a “known undesirable person” or Obama is not the untarnished person he portrays.
Edwards is not stupid. He has been involved in the political scene long enough to know if the Rezko/Obama connection will become the “swiftboat” in the general election.
If this is a real possibility, I pray that Edwards comes out now1 and prevent the bias TV reporting that is being been done.
- Posted by Phyllis/PAThe “Clinton Era” also brought us NAFTA, and cost us hundreds of thousands of AMERICAN jobs.
H. Clinton voted for a stupid war and cost us thousands of AMERICAN lives and billions of our dollars.
Edwards is cool. He is anti-lobbyist like Obama, pro-poor like Obama, and pro-green, like Obama.
But, let’s top it. Obama/Gore 2008.
- Posted by Lisa W.come on people! You all talk like if someone works hard and got to be successful, it then becomes a moral crime and it then must be punished by taxing them back to the poor. This is pure jealousy politics and beggar-thy-neighbor mindset, which will only hurt our country. We don’t need to punish the entrepreneurs who believe it or not are actually the real job creators of this country, not the government! The new tax policies proposed by both HRC and Obama does not distinguish between real big corporations and your small business owners who actually are the real victims of their political class warfare witch hunt. Middle class will be destroyed by the high tax scheme and jobs will surely be lost. A tax system that punishes savings and investments and job creation cannot be called pro-growth! Please do your research and compare different schools of thoughts before you make your decision!
- Posted by TimI sincerely hope that Edwards supports Obama, he just seems more genuine. However, I will support either candidate if they are nominated. Edwards will not be the vice for either, he announced last week he is done for now. I am sure he wants to spend this time with his wife and stay out of the campaigning for now. I believe I read this on CNN if you want to read about it yourself.
- Posted by RoslynAnyone elected president Clinton or Obama will not change the american system.
You will still have to pay bills. They will not heal you if you get sick.
The sun will still shine if America elect a black
man. It will happen anyway why not now.
Minnesota
- Posted by paulIt seems many of you think very highly of John Edwards. I do as well. If you feel this way…. What happened? Why isn’t he the Democratic front runner now? He should be!
- Posted by Julie