Edwards -- After South Carolina

So let's say Edwards gets 15% or so in South Carolina. Is it time for him to drop out? If not, what is he hoping for? I don't think there's any upcoming state where he leads in the polls.

Never gets old...

:eyes:

I didn't say I want him to drop out. I don't care if he drops out or stays in. I was just asking a question regarding politics in general. At some point, virtually every candidate drops out. And it is usually when that candidate realizes he/she has no legitimate chance to win the nomination. My question was simply geared to that. It's not an attack on the guy. I mean, at some point he's going to have to accept he has no real chance, or his money will dry up because donors will realize he has no chance. He can only go on so long finishing 3rd.

I have no idea.

But no... he doesn't have to drop out just because he finishes third repeatedly... and nobody knows that that is what will happen.

:hi:

Sorry if I missed other threads.

Based on current polling, it looks like 3rd place is where Edwards is going to wind up in South Carolina and Florida.

more Dems will start looking at policy, and ignore all the media hype...

We'll see! :)

...and better than the other candidates.

It's not al about getting elected. It's also about contributing to the platform.

If we go through March and neither Hillary nor Obama has enough delegates to take it, then John Edwards essentially gets to pick who the Democratic nominee is. And as kingmaker, he can get Hillary and/or Obama to implement his policies as part of their platforms.

If no one has the majority of votes on the first ballot, ALL of the delegates (even those committed to Clinton and Obama) are free to vote for anyone they choose. Edwards will not have the power to shift his delegates to someone else. He can drop out of the balloting and support one of the other candidates but the effect is the same as if he dropped out of the primary race now (or latter) and gave his support to one of the other candidates.

Candidates are in no way bound to their Party's platform nor will a third place finisher have much influence over it.

in 1952, in which candidate Richard Russell convinced Southern Democratic delegates to swing to Stevenson in return for John Sparkman's position as VP on the ticket in order to deny Estes Kefauver the nomination.

Granted, that was a different world, but I don't think it's necessarily true that a candidate has no ability to sway his delegates, regardless of convention rules.

Thankfully, there can no longer be any back-room deals between candidates. Delegates can no longer be instructed how to vote.

More importantly, a brokered convention would be disastrous for the Democratic Party (unless the Republican Party also had a brokered convention). I don't think either Party will allow that type of public airing of Party disunity to occur (especially on prime-time TV)

A brokered candidate is a weak candidate, especially in this day and age. Of course, since there hasn't been a brokered convention in modern political history (I believe 1952 was the last one for either party?), we're definitely sailing in uncharted waters.

after super Tuesday, like he did in 2004

The MSM is afraid of him.

And how many answer it?

Edwards isn't dropping out. He's staying in until the convention.

He has a lot of support, he has the money, and he's in it to help people, so there's no reason for him to drop out.

You really should be more concerned about all the people who are supporting the celebrity candidates - the ones the M$M is covering - because they're who the powers that be want in office.

That should concern you most, not when Edwards might drop out.

:thumbsup:

This is not a high school senior government election, where the kids vote for the inevitable conclusion. And this is not a monarchy or communist state where the elections are for show and predetermined. (Well, mostly not, but the media's choices and the "meme" du jour of "so-and-so should drop out" are undemocratic at best and sinister at worst).

He can damned well stay in if he wants to, and we can all damned well vote for our choice of candidate without calculating who can win or who will win, etc. etc. It's one vote and it's my vote and my dollars I am donating.

I swear to dog, everyone has completely missed the point of basic civics.

And if he catches fire perhaps another state or two.

nt

scouring this board for offensive thread like this one and update my "ignored" list. Starting here and now.

This whole constantly repeated "Edwards should drop out" meme by the DU Obamanoids is way beyond grotesquely immature and disgusting.

Man, if this thread is offensive, you sure have a thin skin. How in the world can it be considered offensive to merely ask a question as to whether a candidate will drop out if he makes a poor showing in an upcoming primary?

Grossly immature and disgusting? Give me a break. Isn't this a board to discuss politics? Is Edwards somehow off the table in discussing whether he'll drop out?