Edwards On His Candidate: I Already Voted For Him?

John Edwards appeared on Morning Joe today to talk about the state of the race, which means he spent most of his time defending questions about why he has not endorsed yet. But a few people are saying he slipped in his stonewalling, accidentally suggesting that he voted for Obama.

Edwards acknowledged that he voted in the North Carolina primary, and that he would likely support that candidate. He then said, "I already voted for him."

Or did he? With that North Carolina accent, it might have been "I already voted for 'em." Ben Smith thinks it's the latter; Mark Halperin is undecided.

The whole interview is worth a watch, as Edwards talks about what motivates a person to run a presidential campaign. Watch the whole thing, or jump to about to 9:45 hear Edwards' comments on who he voted for:

Comments

[CjAzure]

There was no "him" there. Oh ho hum!!!!

[RaraAvis17]

He talked a lot about Clinton in a way to throw everyone off in thinking he voted for her, but I really believe he is an intellligent man and that he voted for Obama. At least I hope he did. I want him to also endorse Obama and become his Vice President. He is an asset this country cannot pass up.

[LoneStarLori]

Obama and Edwards would not only clinch the general election, they would be an awesome team. Young, aware and ready to shake things up.

[Raymondf]

Yes, he wants the VP chair.

[Alessan]

Edwards was already the VP, in 2004, Kerry lost. and if Obama asks I doubt he'd accept. Obama should pick Hillary Clinton, then he doesn't have to worry about the white working class men, whose votes he lost in Pa. and NC. Why not let the Dems sweep the election this time, and leave no doubts for the neo-cons.

[jeplanet]

I'm Canadian and therefore, I don't usually pay close attention to US politics. But the more I saw of Barack Obama, the more interested I became and I'm now completely obsessed with your presidential
race. Can I make a couple of points?
1. Congatulations for a democratic race between 2 intelligent, strong, committed people. I hope you know how lucky you are to have politicians that can inspire people and make them feel hopeful.
2. I can't believe it, and I get a bit freaked out, when I see polls that show McCain would be almost tied with the democratic nominee. Do Americans not understand how much their standing in the worldwide community has fallen in the last 8 years under republican rule; do they just not care?
3. I really got to like John Edwards, and was sad when he dropped out. Why does he not seem to be a consideration for VP? It seems like an Obama/Edwards ticket would be pretty powerful.
4. Please keep Bill O'Reilly and Rush Limbau on YOUR side of the border!!!

Good Luck you guys. Peace

[NYCMami]

Nice post, and agree on all points except 1: HRC is really trolling the bottom of the barrel and she's certainly not inspiring anything beyond divisiveness and 4: Can't you PLEASE take them? We'll throw in Hannity.

[brooklyncitizen]

"Do Americans not understand how much their standing in the worldwide community has fallen in the last 8 years under republican rule; do they just not care?"

The latter; AMericans don't care. Really very few even travel. The scale and the geography of the nation is part of it but there has been a long standing cultural idea that all that is needed is right here so why go anywhere else?

Strange notion indeed. When I do travel I go abroad, not particularly intersted in discovering America (most graetful for Brooklyn).

[jeplanet]

That's too bad, because I think the rest of the world really wants to like America. And, until recently, I think Americans were quite liked; if not always understood. To be seen as irrational by the rest of the world IS a problem, and it's one that can come back on you.
However, I think Americans can send a loud and clear "WE"RE STARTING OVER" message in November, so please assure me: McCain's not going to win, is he?????

[PatrickforO]

I'm sorry but I must completely disagree with the assertion that Americans don't care about how much our standing in the world has fallen the last seven years. I was born in 1958, and while we "educated white male voters" are fully aware that America has never been perfect, we've always tried to be the good guys - until W, Cheney and the rest of the neocon war criminals. Now, here we are emasculating the Bill of Rights (might as well use it as TP now, it's been so diluted and ignored), and TORTURING people. This isn't the nation I love and believe in. Not under neocon control. But there's still hope - the voters in IN and NC repudiated the stupid gas tax holiday because they actually thought about it. Maybe we are better than that...may­be we'll not fall prey AGAIN to fearmongering and pandering.­..maybe we WON'T fall prey to red herrings like the gay marriage issue that keep us from looking at the big picture. I WANT MY COUNTRY BACK, and I want us to be considered the light and hope of the whole world once again. That's why I'm for Obama.

[rzan]

He already has been a vice presidential candidate, and I don't think he wants to re-visit that. He was running for president this time around, not vice president.

[KillTheMessenger]

And why not? What is not to like about Barack Obama? What is not to like about John Edwards? They both know the game and they are both grown ups with a good sense of humor.

[tipiglen6]

And they both have genuine smiles that light up the room.
http://home.btconnect.com/tipiglen/smile.jpg
http://home.btconnect.com/tipiglen/barack.jpg
but both Clinton and McCain smile like they've got intestinal problems.
and, as for Hillary, even false smiles are rare:
http://zombietime.com/really_truly_hillary_gallery/

[Alessan]

What's there not to like about Obama, well big ears, big mouth, big teeth, and he lies, typical politican
will say anything to get the vote, hope and change, change what and when. Edwards is perfect.

[rzan]

Your hatred is jumping right off the page. Must be fun to be you.

[JLee]

John was my guy before he dropped out, and even now the more I see of him the better I like him. He has a wonderful self-deprecating sense of humor, and is idealistic while still being very much the politician. That honeyed accent and good looks don't hurt, either. :-) The guy ran a great campaign against two celebrity candidates while being outspent like six to one, and his populist platform helped set the agenda for the primary season and likely the general election. He and Elizabeth are likely to be respected and influential progressive voices for decades to come, and deserve to be.

And yeah, I think he said "him." Unless he really did vote for "'em" and his vote will never count because he put two names on the ballot, heh. I wonder if that was a slip or intentional. Trial lawyer that he is, controlling verbal cues in a public setting should be second nature to Edwards. My money's on Elizabeth voting Hillary and John voting Obama.

[lisakaz2]

I would have voted for him if I had not decided I liked Obama early on. He definitely was my alternative choice and I was very happy that they were 1-2 in Iowa.

I definitely had trouble with his "''em" line and thought it was telling that none of the broadcasters challenged him over what he said. I couldn't tell and thought it might have been an "er." It was cryptic to me.

[Alessan]

It was a er, but that doesn't mean he voted for Hillary at all, again he will support the winn
ing ticket, period.

[cougarrr15]

I was an Obama supporter from the start, but the more I heard Edwards, the more I liked his positions. Ironically, however, as time goes on without his support of a candidate, I think he is showing a lack of leadership. Especially, now, what does he have to lose? ...Obama ran away with his state. Specifically, how can he say a protracted race will harm the party, when his endorsement for Obama can help end it with his delegates going to Obama? I understand it isnt his fault, and that he cant single-handedly end it, but he certaintly isnt doing anything to help.

[bobdob]

I'm from that part of the country, and I know the accent well. There is no doubt--he said "him." He voted for Obama.

[TAHARQA]

i disagree. I talk like that.

[LoneStarLori]

I agree bobdob, In a southern accent, if he had said 'them' it would have sounded more like "I just voted FORUM" on Tuesday.

[jwarrener]

I really believe that John Edwards sincerely likes both candidates and does not want to do anything that will damage the other one. He seems to understand that his endoresement will not have much of an effect on either one. In spite of what many are saying I do not believe he is holding out for some kind of deal. If he wanted to be a kingmaker and cut himself an incredible deal all he had to do was stay in the race and amass a couple of hundred delegates and it would be impossible for either Obama or Clinton to get the nomination.

[IslandGyal]

Yeah, I am not sure if he actually said him or 'em. David Shuster caught and asked him, but he didn't seem caught.

[Thatcher]

No one says "I just voted for (th)em." When talking about a single contest - southern or not. When you talk about voting ... you use a single person pronoun "I voted for him" or "I voted for her" ... or you make a noncommittal "I just voted on Tuesday" - without a pronoun.

[billbird]

Yes, people do this in the South...an­d elsewhere!

[AshevilleVoice]

I have to say that, unlikely as it seems, I think that he said "I jus voted for 'er on Tuesday."

Watch his lips. If he had said "voted for-m", the NC way of saying 'voted for him', his lips would have come together slightly to make the mmm.

But the says "voted for-er"- the r sound repeats, and his lips don't come together to make an mmm.

The assumption has generally been that he disagrees with Elizabeth, but he is enough of a lawyer to let people assume that. It is to his advantage, here in NC, where the political climate is pro-Obama, and given that he wooed both environmentalists, AAs, and champions of the underprivileged- who all favor Obama- that he be in agreement.

It looks to me like what he is doing is waiting until the last minute and then endorsing whoever is winning. He can hide behind the pretense that he is merely going with the will of the party.

But he VOTED FOR CLINTON!!!!!!!!!

Of that I have no doubt.

[CatLadyforObama]

You have no doubt? Then clearly you haven't been paying attention to Edwards.

Here's a snippet:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qq7CAIsSd44

[americanwomaninpa]

Whats with the music . I don't remember any music.

[sg096]

gee how many times did you have to watch that to get to that conclusion?
America...­get a life!
he said that he voted for the person who will be the nominee
obama!

[escrow7]

I saw him on the Today's show this morning. I think he voted for Obama.

[MrGill]

He is entertaining to watch, that was a good clip. I like his assessment of his own importance; self deprecation is a good trait in a politician. Keeps them from getting too full of themselves.

[ProgressiveNotLiberal]

Oh yeah, he voted for Obama and does not respect Hillary's detrimental to the party moves.

[SethBLiNK]

He said that he will most likely endorse the person he voted for. He will DEFINITELY endorse the democratic candidate and that will most likely be Obama. So, we know he voted for Obama.

He and Elizabeth have split their ballots and agreed not to disclose. I can understand that. It would also be interesting if they came out together and said she voted for her and he voted for him.