Earlier today both John Edwards and Rudy Giuliani officially ended there run for the presidency, though in reality both had to have known for at least a month that it was not going to be their time. Mr. Edwards has declined to endorse one of the two remaining candidates.
Edwards said he has spoken to both of his Democratic rivals, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.
"They have both pledged to me, and more importantly through me to America, that they will make ending poverty central to their campaign for the presidency," he said.
"This is the cause of my life. I now have their commitment to engage in this cause," Edwards said.
Following his announcement, Edwards told ABC News' David Muir that that he was willing to continue a dialogue with Clinton and Obama about what they plan to do going forward in their campaigns. He would not say which candidate he would endorse, if any.
Perhaps he's unaware that there already has been a "War on Poverty." It didn't work. Or, rather, it had an effect opposite the intent, creating a large non-participating underclass dependent on the government. Good luck with that life work. Mr. Giuliani has made an endorsement.
Rudy Giuliani, who sought to make the leap from New York mayor to the White House, bowed out of the Republican presidential contest Wednesday and endorsed front-runner and longtime friend John McCain.
"John McCain is the most qualified candidate to be the next commander in chief of the United States," Giuliani said. "He's an American hero."
How Mr. Giuliani managed to squander his name recognition and early lead will be an interesting side story as the race moves on without him. And so we are left with Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Mitt Romney and John McCain. Each has weaknesses, both within their party battle and within the general election.
I am still hoping Mr. Obama picks up some steam, not for any particular affection for him or his policies, though he is refreshingly honest about them, but mainly so that I no longer have to see and hear Clinton flacks like Terry McAuliffe tell me that his clearly flawed candidate has no flaws, that all she thinks and does glows like molten gold and smells like freshly-picked flowers. For instance, have a look at the death in California of HillaryCare 2009.
And I'm hoping that Mr. Romney can begin to coalesce true conservatives and Republicans around him to win enough delegates next Tuesday and thereafter that the runaway McCain train can be slowed. Why? This top ten list gives you a good start. That kind of class warfare I'd expect from Senator Kennedy, or certainly from Mr. 'War on Poverty.' Then there's ANWR. And McCain-Feingold. And McCain-Kennedy. And - well, you get the picture. This is dangerously close to a Romney endorsement, isn't it? A lengthier piece on Mr. McCain is at Protein Wisdom, and well worth reading. MDS, indeed.
*Yes, Ron Paul hasn't dropped out. Does it matter?
