Clinton - Edwards? It Looks That Way

For all the media hype about Barack Obama, it seems that John Edwards is heavily leaning toward Clinton. Of course all three are being silent on the matter, except for one off-hand remark by Clinton. Of course, those "off-hand" remarks by Hillary are never off hand, and people listen to every one of them.

The first and most sensational: Last week, Hillary Clinton had a last minute secret meeting with Edwards in North Carolina. None of the details of the meeting have been disclosed, but it is likely not a coincidence that three days later, a scheduled meeting with Obama was canceled. When questioned about the meeting with Clinton, the NY Senator said, "...I intend to ask John Edwards to be a part of anything I do at the White House,” she said." Source

This is not the first time that meetings and contacts with Edwards have shown preference to Clinton.

Rather than re-write all of this, I will quote another article:

From: The Road to Denver -- A Firewall for Hillary, A Firetrap for Obama
By Carl Jeffers

And there's one other potential surprise that could have a major impact on this race. I believe it is likely that John Edwards may endorse Hillary Clinton for the nomination over Barack Obama. And if Edwards does so, I believe it would be for three reasons.

First, I think Edwards may conclude that Clinton is the tougher candidate to both fight in the fall campaign and to fight back against the insurance and oil companies once she were in the White House. Second, I think Edwards may conclude that Hillary's healthcare plan will come closer to accomplishing his goal of true universal health care that he feels so committed to and passionately about. And third (and this one will not be so openly discussed), Edwards was born in South Carolina and represented North Carolina. I believe he may conclude that there is a hidden issue of race in this campaign and a planned "southern and mid-states strategy" that Republicans and Swift Boat type groups will utilize in the fall campaign that will make it tougher for Obama to actually win versus Hillary's chances to actually win.

Finally, I believe that if Edwards is going to do this it will be soon as he knows he has, outside of Iowa, his strongest populist-middle class support in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin to a lesser degree. Consequently, he will want to have his endorsement really make a difference -- and with those primaries looming, if he does make this endorsement it would likely be sooner rather than later.

With the points I made earlier that suggest that not only is Hillary not out of this, but in fact, she may wind up ahead by June in both vote count and delegates, and then you combine that with the possible impact of a John Edwards endorsement were it to occur, then both sides will be switching their positions on how terrible the super delegate structure is. And if in a competitive battle both sides hate it, there may very well be a strong argument for leaving things just the way they are!

But what did Hillary promise him that has him canceling meetings with Obama? That is assuming he even planned to have the meeting with Obama at all. Possibly he was planning to meet with both just to maintain his perceived "neutrality." Regardless, it seems that any meeting with Obama has been tabled, directly on the heels of a meeting with Clinton. Again, coincidence? Doubt it.

If you look closely, you will see that Clinton and Edwards share much closer political views than Edwards and Obama. You have to look close, because all three have a very similar message and track record. Also, Edwards has been through an almost successful presidential campaign before, and he knows what it's really like. So has Hillary. Very likely, Hillary's warning to Obama that, "until you've been through it, you have no idea..." hit a much closer chord for Edwards than anyone else, except maybe Al Gore, who is also starting to show up in the news again, too. And, Hillary has been through a successful presidential campaign before, Bill's. I will parrot Carl Jeffers and say, no doubt, to Edwards, Hillary looks like the one more capable of weathering the storm.

So, what did Hillary offer? Vice President? Attorney General? Secretary of State? Does it matter? I believe what matters is getting him. An endorsement from Edwards would be a very major victory for Clinton, and surely Edwards knows this. He could reposition her as the perceived favorite. A little caution on his part is wise; this nomination race is close to everyone involved, and a rash decision is not what anyone should be making. Edwards also knows the clock is ticking. He could just vanish, but he has chosen not to. Anyone heard from Guiliani lately? The point being: anonymity even in this campaign is possible, and Edwards has let his opinion remain openly hidden. We'll hear from Edwards soon, and probably it will be for Clinton.

Vote Hillary!