Monday, January 28, 2008

BARACK OBAMA, JOHN EDWARDS, HILLARY CLINTON

Two Open Questions: A Gore Endorsement and an Edwards Departure

Interesting aside from Bill Kristol in today's New York Times...

So Hillary’s advantage in the polls will, I suspect, erode. The erosion could be hastened by the expected endorsement of Obama by Ted Kennedy on Monday. It could be helped further along if Al Gore hops aboard the Obama bandwagon later in the week.

Is Kristol suggesting something he's hearing, or is he just speculating out loud?

A Gore endorsement of Obama would be big, but not surprising...

Another odd, provocative bit from that column...

But the moment of truth could come at the Democratic debate Thursday, in Los Angeles. Edwards may have dropped out by then. If so, it will be a one-on-one showdown. Even if he’s there, he’ll be effectively a bystander. Will Obama hold his own?

Edwards and his team have said, several times, that they plan to be in it all the way to the election. Their latest spin, after finishing second, third, third, and third in the first big four primaries:

"We believe it will go to the convention," said Joe Trippi, Edwards' chief strategist.

"If you want to know why we're still in it, go look at the debate," Trippi said. "There are two people trying to tear each other down. We can win this thing. People will get sick of that real fast."...

Struggling presidential candidates often drop out when their money dries up.

But the Edwards campaign says the money continues to come in, thanks mainly to donations made over the Internet — tapping into a nationwide liberal network of donors who agree with his populist attacks on corporate power in Washington, his opposition to the war in Iraq, and his stress on ending poverty and providing universal health care.

The campaign says it has raised $3 million over the Internet so far in January, including $230,000 on Thursday. Most of the money, the campaign says, is coming in donations of $100 or less.

01/28 09:20 AMShare