Edwards Endorses Obama

In another sign that the Democratic Party establishment is embracing the likely nominee, John Edwards is endorsing former rival Senator Barack Obama, even as Senator Hillary Clinton refuses to give up her long-shot candidacy. Mr. Edwards appeared with Senator Obama in Grand Rapids, Michigan, as the Illinois senator campaigns in the critical general election battleground state. The endorsement comes the day after Senator Clinton defeated Senator Obama by more than 2-to-1 in West Virginia. The loss highlighted Obama's work to win over the "Hillary Democrats" — White, working-class voters who also supported Edwards in large numbers before he exited the race.

Edwards, a former North Carolina senator and the 2004 vice presidential nominee, dropped out of the race in late January. Both Senator Obama and Senator Clinton immediately asked him for his endorsement, but he stayed silent for more than four months. A person close to Edwards, speaking on condition of anonymity, said he wanted to get involved now to begin unifying the party. Senator Obama also signed on to Edwards' anti-poverty initiative, which he launched Tuesday with the goal of reducing poverty in the United States by half within 10 years.

Edwards didn't even tell many of his former top advisers when he made his decision, because he wanted to make sure that he personally talked to Senator Clinton to give her the news, said the person close to him. This is perfect timing for Senator as the story now in the Edwards’ endorsement and not the West Virginia loss. Edwards was considered Obama and Clinton’s strongest contender, even though he was always outshone by the historic nature of Senator Obama possibly being the first Black nominee and Senator Clinton the first woman nominee.

Edwards promoted progressive policy ideas and came in second to Senator Obama in Iowa before coming in third in the following three contests and dropping out in New Orleans, the location a reminder of his attention to poverty. This leaves Senator Obama just 139 delegates short of the 2,026 needed to clinch the nomination. Now we shall see in the Democratic Party can come together to win the White House.

Senator Clinton vowed to remain in the presidential race until the last primaries next month, but she hinted that the lingering contest with Senator Obama would end shortly thereafter. "You don't walk off the court before the buzzer sounds," Clinton said on CNN. "You never know, you might get a three-point shot at the end." She has stopped the negative campaigning over the last week, so maybe she will support the nominee when this is over.