Elizabeth Edwards Denies Endorsement Rumors

UPDATE: During an interview on Tuesday afternoon with MSNBC, Elizabeth Edwards denied rumors that her or her husband were on the verge of an endorsement. A rough transcript is below, or watch the video:

MSNBC: I do want to get you on this issue in terms of the news value. Can you say to me right here on MSNBC that you or your husband will not endorse in the next week? That is correct?

EDWARDS: I would be surprised. Things can happen at any day, as we found out today, a very big day on the political scene. So you never say never, so I don't know that the situation could not happen in the next week that would change our minds. But our current -- my current inclination is not to say any more than I have said. I'm willing to repeat it as many times as people want me to. John would have to speak for himself. He's also on vacation.

EARLIER:

With only days away from the North Carolina primary, what has become of John Edwards? While his wife has begun to take an active life in the political fray (including a few shots at John McCain's healthcare plan), the former presidential candidate has remained silent.

Today, Hillary Clinton will pick up a big endorsement from North Carolina governor Mike Easley. But the biggest North Carolina endorsement, Edwards himself, seems nowhere in sight. The New York Times reports on the conflicting pressure faced by John Edwards:

Many of Mr. Edwards's supporters in North Carolina have been quietly pressing him to endorse Mr. Obama, and a large group of them, led by Ed Turlington, his campaign chairman during the last presidential race, came forward publicly last week to support Mr. Obama.

On the other hand, Mrs. Edwards, her husband's closest and most trusted adviser, has made it clear that she favors Mrs. Clinton; aides said she had recently tried to persuade Mr. Edwards to do the same.

Read Huffposts continuing coverage of the North Carolina primary.

See the latest North Carolina polls.

Comments

[Bearangaria]

I am sadly disappointed in Elizabeth.
I have admired her for years and now this. It's very distressing
that she would support the most disingenuos back stabbing candidate
running. What makes her think Hillary can or will follow
through with the health care plan she approves of?
Hillary has changed tunes at every turn.
Obama could and would refine his plan so that it would become
a real assist to all. Hillary? No way.
Is that the entire reason?
Is there something else going on?
Elizabeth has not seemed the type to put credence in
gossip and political hooha or back room deals.
Hillary feeds off them.
I don't get it.

[bygollymissmolly]

Elizabeth Edwards has not endorsed Clinton. This is just an interpretation the press is making because she favors Clinton's health plan. They are supposedly quoting her "aides". If Elizabeth Edwards was going to endorse Clinton, she is woman enough to come right out and do it without her husband's permission.

I'll believe it when I hear it and not one moment sooner.

[Atoz2]

Anyone know the email address of John Edwards so I can send a messege to endorse Obama??

[MNmommy]

Well I'd think you could try his campaign website.

[Truthfighter1]

that's why John hasn't jumped in with her yet, he's looking at the big picture not at the State Obama is going to win anyway, why would he jeopardize his chance to have a spot on Obama's Presidential staff.

[EinChicago]

"why would he jeopardize his chance to have a spot on Obama's Presidential staff."

because he;'s already been through one disastrous campaign with a nunelectable presidential candidate. Obama makes kerry look electable and decisive. Why would Edwards be quick to repeat that mistake again?

"

[lynneann]

if Edwards endorses Clinton, then he couldn't have meant anything he said about government reform while he was campaigning. Sad - because I thought he was a true reformer like Obama.

[lmatthe]

Here Here. If Edwards endorses Clinton after all of his earlier rhetoric about lobbyist reform, then he'd make himself a huge hippocrate. That would be depressing becuase I was a big believer in Edwards.

[RDemocrat]

Wrong. Obama and Clinton are both Corporate Democrats. Not an ounce of difference, except Clinton's healthcare plan is better, one of the Edwards main concerns. Obama takes money from lobbyists too, he just does it more subtly as pointed out by Edwards in one of the debates.

JRE and EE have every bit as much right to support who they feel is best, and your crying doesn't make them a hypocrite.

[spiritualized]

i am really glad that other people see it this way.

hopefully edwards will feel the vibe before he decides to sell out.

[spy3811]

For a long time I hoped we would see an Obama/Edwards ticket. Who knows?

[Hydro74]

i was hoping for Obama / Ron Paul Ticket... But Obama / Edwards would be great as well.

[bygollymissmolly]

Are you nuts. Have you ever really looked into Ron Paul and what he represents? If you have, then you would not think having Ron Paul on the ticket would be a good idea.

[Heartlander]

I readily admit to having been an Edwards partisan, and I am pleased that Edwards has not endorsed either Obama or Clinton. To me, endorsements seem to be a kind of political game. Why should Edwards endorse when neither candidate has run the kind of campaign that he was running? He was ahead of the curve on progressive issues, and neither Obama nor Clinton has matched him on substance with regard to poverty, environmental protection or trade issues.
Has Biden endorsed either candidate? If not, I could also understand why he has not done so. Why should someone who has a deep understanding of international affairs endorse either Clinton or Obama who have touted their first lady and childhood and college experiences, respectively , as meaningful international experience.
I am certain that both Edwards and Biden will support the eventual Democratic nominee, however, I see no reason for them to jump on any bandwagon that is not on the course that they were on while pursuing the nomination.

[RDemocrat]

Here, Here!!!!

[barackaide]

where, where?!

[spiritualized]

because endorsements are not meant to compare the candidate to the endorser, they are meant to distinguish one candidate from another candidate.

obama and hillary are not equal so endorsements become valuable. especially when the media outlets are so out of touch with the issues that actually matter.

[Shelly1970]

I hope it will be revealed whether or not John is just an old-school politician.

[RDemocrat]

And Obama is not??? LOL!!! You really need to stop buying the hype. Rev. Wright has exposed Obama as just another politician!!

I mean, he threw his grandmother and his preacher under the bus!!! Don't get much more "old school" than that!!

[richcpl]

Can someone explain why anyone listens to Elizabeth Edwards? Has she held any public office? Is she an established public intellectual? She's the wife of a failed presidential and vice presidential candidate and former senator. How does that earn her a public platform to expound on the presidential campaign?

[wutzhappn]

Looks like Huffington Post is all in a tizzy about the steady downfall of its chosen candidate. No sign anywhere on this website about the REv. Wright firestorm that is taking place right now. Elizabeth Edwards endorsement of Hillary is buried at the bottom of the fold, as if it's a minor story. Newsflash: Your candidate is in trouble, and so is the democratic party if he is the nominee.

[AtTheMoon]

and hillary is your solution? The right hates her guts more than anyone, and after this election cycle, most of the democrats hate her freaking guts too. So I guess you could say she's a uniter.

[barackaide]

you need to get out more

[bygollymissmolly]

Steady downfall? My such hyperbole. Just because Obama lost PA, after cutting Hillary's lead in half, does not define a "steady downfall".

Oh, I see, you think that Elizabeth's "non endorsement" should have been the headline article? Also, there are plenty of references to Wright on this blog.

Obama is not in trouble, but you are welcome to think he is if it makes you feel better.

[luvthelaw]

I don't know what firestorm you are talking about. I know the talking heads keep trying to make it an issue but nost people I know want to know how they are going to put gas in their cars to get to work, how to feed their families, how to get their kids out of the war. Can we please stick to what is important? Polls have shown that Wright has not impacted the race. Some people will use it as an excuse not to vote for him, but they would have found some other excuse if it wasn't Wright because they would never have voted for him to begin with.

[spiritualized]

she has cancer.

[WhitePeople4Obama]

Honestly, John, you know Obama fits your views of the America much better than Hillary. Your concern of the poor is much more resonant with him than Mrs. Corporate-Democrat

[djohn78]

thats not true. John = Universal health care. Hillary = Universal. Obama = single payer.

[MNmommy]

Can you explain how Obama=Single Payer?

[trinity29]

Actually Hillary's is mandated health care with penalties. It is nowhere near being Universal in the ways Universal health care is understood around other industrialized nations like Canada, UK, Australia, etc. Obama's is reduced premium so that people can afford healthcare. Either way no one is offering universal health care at this time in the political scene.

[Valkyrie]

There will be no universal anything until the health insurance industry is abolished. So your point = nothing.

[bygollymissmolly]

Neither Obama nor Clinton are advocating either a single payer or universal health plan. Both their plans still rely on traditional health insurance companies providing the insurance. Their plans just come up with ways to try to make sure that everyone is covered. Hillary's way is to mandate that you have health insurance otherwise you will be penalized. Obamas does not mandate you have to have health insurance and does not penalize people who can't afford health insurance, even if it is made cheaper.

Obama has frequently said that he favors a universal single-payer health plan if he could start from scratch. But he recognizes that it would be very difficult to cut out the health care providers completely and switch to something like Medicare. He suspects, and I think he is right, that the nation is not quite ready for that kind of an overhaul of our health system. But, you never know. Once he is elected he could just say to the for-profit health insurance industry "You're done, your free rein and cash cow is now closed, we're going with Medicare for all. Then he could offer the people who are working for the for-profit health insurance companies a job in the government doing for the new health care system what they did for the private health care system. This is what Kucinich proposed and he had actuarial numbers to back him up.

[mjjcpa]

Now we know who wears the pants in this family. I think she could take him in a fight too.

[Shadows]

Most Edwards supporters have gone over to Clinton. The 17 super-delegates who previously supported him have begun to go over to Clinton. If he follows the will of his own voters, John will probably follow suit.

[Valkyrie]

If Obama wins North Carolina, then all the super delegates, Edwards included, should go to Obama?

[mice]

What planet do you live on? This is simply not true.

[barackaide]

Reps. Mel Watt and David Price endorsed the Illinois senator, giving Obama the support of six of North Carolina's 17 superdelegates. Only one of the state's superdelegates is backing Hillary Rodham Clinton. The rest are uncommitted and many have said they are unlikely to endorse a candidate until after the state's May 6 primary.

http://www.digtriad.com/news/local_state/article.aspx?storyid=101885&catid=57

[bygollymissmolly]

You are full of it. Every Edwards supporter I know went to Obama. I also read a recent poll that showed that Edwards supporters went to Obama more than two to one.

But, like Hillary, you can say anything you want and hope that it turns out to be true.

[Ramus]

me too a former Edwards supporter and many of my friends were Edwards supporters and have all moved to Obama. It was Clinton's VOTES for the war, for Kyl/Lieberman and her lack of support for the Levine amendment.­.that turned us all off. We don't believe we can trust her. He comment about Obliterating Iran didn't help. She's way too bellicose. And she lies. And she's toast already!

[Truthfighter1]

Exactly!..­.Hillary has been working on the same old plan since she was First Lady, then as a Senator. It has not happened because her plan has one key flaw. A Mandate requiring everyone to pay even if they want it, this may not mean much to those who have stable jobs and such, but for those who are not so lucky this plan could potentially make them worse off than they are already. This type a plan i believe is great for children, Obama's plan says that all kids MUST be covered, adults can opt to choose affordable insurance or if you work your premium will be cheaper, much more reasonable plan to the other side who will be needed to pass a bill for healthcare.

[xcrunner77]

John is smart enough to work through the scenarios. He can see that Clinton is NOT going to be the nominee. Why would he jump on a sinking ship?

Obama is going to be the nominee. Obama is going to win the general. An Edwards endorsement now may get him that attorney general spot. But maybe not. Obama could have used his help much earlier. Instead, John forced him to win everything on his own, without help. Obama can win NC without Edwards. What would he owe Edwards?

Obama might still give attorney general to Edwards in the interest of healing the party. On the other hand, there are lots of eminently qualified attorneys who have given their heart and soul to Obama's campaign, who actually tried to get him into office rather than keeping him out of it.He may prefer to choose someone from that group.

One final thing in Edwards' favor: Obama does not want to surround himself with "yes men", and he would know that Edwards would push him, would bring him the bad news, etc., esp. since he would regard Obama as more of an equal than would a loyal campaign supporter. That might be exactly what Obama wants in an attorney general.

But not if Edward endorses Hillary. Even Obama may not be so magnanimous as to put someone who campaigned against him for the entire race in his Cabinet.

[EinChicago]

Obama makes kerry and McGovern look electable. Edwards has already been through that once., Why hitch his wagon to another guaranteed general election loser like Mr 20%er, the Caucus Kid?

[talkingclock]

Right you are:-)

Obama 08

[Tyrione]

In short, John Edwards will soon endorse Senator Clinton. Elizabeth will have her husband's support. This doesn't need an article to figure out.

[qdog112]

Even though his policies mirror Barack's I think he will endorse Hillary. He's probably made up his mind, but only wants to give the appearance of hand wringing consternation. Hope he doesn't, fear he will.

[RDemocrat]

No, his policies DON'T mirror Obama's. Obama plans on leaving millions including myself out of healthcare. If Obama's policies were anywhere near JRE's I would be on board. Obama falls way short of the policies presented by Edwards.

Support who you want, but don't lie to yourself.

[rssrai]

If JRE endorses Hillary I will demand the $850 I donated to his campaign. JRE was totally against Hillary and said that he and Obama were the change candidates. EE said that Hillary had too many negatives to be elected. They would be total hypocrites if they endorse the Clintons.