California pols miffed Edwards quit while polls were open

California Democrats were still heading to the polls late Tuesday afternoon when networks announced John Kerry as the likely Democratic nominee -- and John Edwards as a has-been.

By 5 p.m., a full three hours before polls closed in the nation's most populous state, CNN reported that Edwards was expected to drop out of the Democratic presidential race today. The announcement surprised party insiders and angered some supporters who hoped the North Carolina senator would grab enough of the state's 370 delegates to keep his hopes alive.

"Naturally, from a California perspective, we'd rather (the campaign) waited,'' said Democrat Carole Migden, who chairs the state Board of Equalization and endorsed Edwards during his California swing last week.

Migden, like many Edwards backers, had argued that the senator could attract independents in California, the nearly 1 in 5 voters eligible to request a Democratic ballot at the polls.

more: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/03/03/MNGG55D09E1.DTL

however IMO Edwards did the right thing for his own career. After all the talk of a 2 man race, he was trounced pretty badly. The "early" withdrawal took some of the focus off of the numbers and made it seem a bit more voluntary.

before all the votes were counted?

Guess, they had a plan we don't know about?

I'm FURIOUS that he would not respect THE VOTING PROCESS!!

:mad: And we complain about the media commenting before the polls close...

Blame the networks, not Edwards.

I kinda feel worse for 1/2 the country that dont get a say.. rather than 3 hours lost here... I don't know how to address that.. I don't support a 1 day primary.. but that is a little unfair IMO.

to the polls closing in California.

And with calling states on the east coast...

What is the point of voting in, say, Hawaii, if you already know that candidate x has the election locked up?

Saying ANYTHING about election results until EVERYONE has voted should be ILLEGAL.

I would repeal reporting election results BEFORE THE ELECTION IS OVER.

Nice try though.

or any other network a large sum of money for calling any states before the election is over, or releasing any exit polls.

The fine could even go into the public financing of elections fund.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

preventing ads from being placed too close to an election site.

The same way we accomplished making laws that restrict what can be said by whom in election ads.

They shouldn't report the results from any state until all polls have closed--even Hawaii.

There was no crappier feeling yesterday than going to the polls knowing the candidate I supported with my time and money was going to drop out. I don't blame Edwards. I blame the media.