Edwards endorsement draws mixed reactions
By Anthony Asencio
May 19, 2008 10:25 p.m.
When former Sen. John Edwards endorsed Barack Obama for president Wednesday, his motives and his endorsement’s impact immediately became a topic of national debate.
Speaking to a raucous crowd in Grand Rapids, Mich., last week, Edwards explained his decision.
“The Democratic voters in America have made their choice, and so have I,” he said, according to The New York Times.
But Edwards’ suddenly resounding support for the Obama campaign came only nine days after he and his wife declared to People magazine that they would not endorse any candidate and on the heels of a substantial victory by Hillary Clinton in the West Virginia primary, one of Obama’s worst losses to date.
Tim Groeling, an assistant professor of communication studies, said he believes the Edwards endorsement had a planned impact.
“By announcing it when they did, it was basically synchronized to hit the evening newscast, which blunted any momentum Hillary would have gotten from her bruising win in West Virginia,” Groeling said.
Groeling said while he believes it was partly an attempt by Edwards to stay relevant, he ultimately did not believe the move had much to do with the vice presidency.
“I would think that it’s more of a play for a Cabinet position than it is for the (vice presidency),” Groeling said.
Others, however, contend that it was simply an effort by Edwards to unify the party behind a “presumptive nominee.”
Gabe Rose, former president of the Bruin Democrats, said he believes the Edwards endorsement was a significant step toward unifying the Democratic Party.
“I think it’s really significant. It’s a sign of the party’s growing confidence in Barack to be the next president of the United States in what has been a pretty divisive primary,” Rose said.
Still, political observers said they believe though the endorsement may have an impact on the Democratic Party, it may have little impact on the general election itself.
Raymond Roker, a Huffington Post columnist, said that while the endorsement did in fact signal an end to a long, contentious primary, he ultimately did not believe it would translate to votes.
“As far as bringing votes to Obama, this is where I’m less optimistic. Obama lacks traction with the lunch box, ex-steel workers, corn farmers, millworkers, etc. Edwards doesn’t seem to have these folks,” Roker said.
Roker said the Edwards endorsement benefits Obama by making it easier for other superdelegates to “vote their conscience,” and ultimately does not do too much outside of that.
