Edwards: Clinton didn't choose words well on race

WASHINGTON — Former Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards said Sunday that he thinks Barack Obama will be the party's presidential nominee and that Hillary Rodham Clinton must be careful not to damage the party's prospects in November as she continues her campaign.

"I know how hard it is to get up and go out there every day, speak to the media, speak to crowds, when people are urging you to get out of the race. I mean, it's a very hard place to be in. But she's shown a lot of strength about that," said Edwards, a former North Carolina senator who exited the race in January.

"But I think the one thing that she has to be careful about ... going forward, is that, if she makes the case for herself, which she's completely entitled to do, she has to be really careful that she's not damaging our prospects, the Democratic Party, and our cause, for the fall," he said in a taped interview broadcast on CBS' "Face the Nation."

Clinton says she's staying in the race despite losing to Obama by a wide margin in North Carolina and barely winning in Indiana, which helped cement his status as the front-runner. She touts her overall electability in a general election and, pointing to demographics, recently told USA Today in an interview:

"There was just an AP article posted that found how Senator Obama's support among working _ hardworking Americans, white Americans, is weakening again, and how the, you know, whites in both states who had not completed college were supporting me."

Some accused Clinton of reintroducing race into the campaign. Edwards seemed to give her a pass.

"She's in a very tough, very competitive race that's been going on a long, long time. And you know, she didn't probably _ I'm sure she feels like she didn't choose her words very well there," he said.

"What I think is, at the end of the day, when this is over _ and I think it is likely, certainly, at this point, that Senator Obama will be the nominee _ that the Democrats will unite. We'll all be behind our nominee. And we'll be out there campaigning our hearts out," Edwards said.

David Axelrod, Obama's chief campaign strategist, disputed Clinton's assertion.

Axelrod said Obama and Clinton split Indiana voters who make $50,000 a year or less, and that Obama performed better among non-college-educated voters there. He said the same was true in North Carolina. Both states voted last week.

"The words weren't well chosen, but the thesis was wrong," Axelrod said on "Fox News Sunday.

Edwards, meanwhile, said he "might" still endorse a candidate, but "I don't think it's a big deal, to be honest with you."

Comments

[bendi67]

It's over..There's no way Senator Clinton can win. She needs to accept it..It's about time we start beating on john bomb bomb mccain

[Taschend]

It's quite simple. Hard working Americans - White Americans - are not going to vote for Barack Obama. Sure, he may have the support of lazy, out-of-touch college-educated voters, but he'll never capture the Americans who matter, the real Americans, those industrious whites.

It's grrreat to be white! Now how can that be construed as inflammatory?

[lmrgreen]

I'm so disappointed in Edwards. At a time when his speaking out could do some good, he is still unwilling to endorse. He doesn't think it 'is a big deal". It is a big deal. I believe if he and his wife would come out in favor of Obama now, it would go a long way in starting the re-unifying of the party. Then all we need is Gore on board.

[EnuffsEnuffAlready]

Edwards is likely for Obama, but since wifey is for Clinton, he needs to keep quiet if he wants peace at home.

[Debmood]

Edwards is not for anybody except Edwards. He is holding out for the best position.

[Flagal]

His endorsement is not a big deal. Just look at what Obama did in NC without his endorsement.

[sebocd]

Gore and Edwards both like to play hard to get. It's a form of delinquency for not getting what they had a right to expect. They're both teasers.

[LouisPWu]

When those 'industrious whites' no longer have jobs, because all the jobs have been shipped overseas by NAFTA, etc., then maybe all those 'industrious whites' will either starve of move to other countries to find the jobs that have been shipped there. Bottom line: RACE BAITING IS AS BAD AS BEING RACIST.

[naturesway]

IN October, 2007, before the Obama's invected the race card, the majority of AA were in the Clinton camp, based upon the tremendous advances the Clinton's helped secure for blacks. Remember, Bill gave many young black politicians their beginnings in the party ( Brazile for one).
The Clinton's NEVER never used race as a weapon against Obama, despite what you Obama folks want to believe.
Think about it. What possible good outcome could racebating give Hillary? It would only be a huge obvious tactical error and she is smart understand that..
There simply would be no good reason for the Clinton camp to try to bring race into the run to POTUS. The only candidate that would benefit from it would be Obama....and that is why he brought it to the front. Well, he and Michelle.

[robXdion]

No Democrat ever has since Jimmy Carter. And this is exactly why he's bringing in new voters to counteract old bigots like yourself. And BTW, bragging about being white in a country that underhandedly touts unspoken white supremacy especially given US history might just be a inflammatory.

You already know this, since you will only state this from the safety of your computer.

[Taschend]

I was hoping the irony would be obvious.

[k6007]

Thanks to the Clintons and the GOP, they aren't so industrialized any longer are they? But, by all means keep voting for them.........You'll matter even less when they're done with you.

[forpeace]

*

Taschend
...Hard working Americans - White Americans - are not going to vote for Barack Obama.......
=====================

With all do respect for "Hard Working White Americans" who lost their jobs due to the Government Outsourcing their jobs to Overseas for Profit, it is time to put the facts together.

If they still vote for Republicans or whom ever playing by Republican rules, then I don't know what else to say.

*

[KillTheMessenger]

John "Damage Control" Edwards. God bless him. He is trying to calm the seas and maybe he will put the loss into perspective for some Clinton supporters... but it is clear that it would be much better if Senator Clinton could get herself to show that kind of resolve and get it over with. No number of surrogate explanations can really heal this rift.

[zorrobozo]

It's about time Edwards started speaking out. . .

Come on, Edwards. . .

Get on board!