Edwards Endorses Obama

Around 6:40 P.M. on Wednesday, former presidential candidate John Edwards endorsed Barack Obama in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Edwards' endorsement has been coveted by both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton since he dropped out of the race on January 30th. His endorsement was the most sought after, second only to former vice president Al Gore.

This endorsement is another step in the gradual ending process of the Democratic primaries. The party will now begin to coalesce more around their likely nominee, Barack Obama.

This timing is also significant because Edwards holds a large amount of sway with working class white voters--a group that Obama does not fare well with, as demonstrated by his big loss in West Virginia yesterday.

This endorsement will not change the minds of voters in the primaries to come, but it will begin the healing process of the party. It is more of a symbolic endorsement than one that is meant to gain immediate votes. Clearly, Edwards believes (as everyone but the Clinton campaign does) that Obama will be the nominee of the Democratic party.

It is very likely that many more uncommitted superdelegates will come out and endorse Obama, now seeing that the big shots are ready to take their chances on Obama.

Also coming with Edwards' endorsement is his nineteen pledged delegates that he won in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and West Virginia. Although they are not obligated to support Obama, it is more than likely that they will. Their support will put Obama at nearly 100 delegates away from securing the nomination.

As I was watching him endorse Obama, I was wondering whether Edwards might make a good running-mate for Obama in November.

On the plus side, he has a great rapport with working class voters--a group Obama struggles with, and a group that is needed to win states like Ohio and Pennsylvania. He is also from the south, and specifically North Carolina, which is a state that Obama could put in play with a coalition of blacks and working class whites if Edwards was on the ticket.

But on the down side, he is not experienced or old enough to balance the ticket, and does not have the foreign policy knowledge needed to back Obama up. Also, in 2004, Edwards did not carry any southern state for nominee John Kerry, and might not be able to again this election cycle. And I'm not quite sure that Edwards is interested in being on the ticket again.

I'm sure he's on the short list, but I wouldn't bet the farm on it. But that decision is a long way away. In the meantime, Edwards' endorsement will help to bring the party together around Obama, and it will convince more uncommitted superdelegates that it is okay to come out of their ditches and declare their support for him.

And keep your eye on Al Gore. His endorsement, along with those of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, will signify the absolute end of the primary process. But don't expect them to endorse until after June 3.