Ahead of the South Carolina primary last year, a high-level aide to then-candidate John Edwards made an offer to Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
He would quit the race and back whoever agreed to add him to the ticket, Obama's campaign manager writes in a new book. Talking Points Memo calls the revelation a "shocker," but is anyone really surprised? David Plouffe's book has also revealed that Plouffe was the source of the tip that led to coverage of Edwards' $400 haircuts.
But then right at the end of the conversation, the Edwards rep added a new wrinkle: "Just to be clear, we're going to talk to the Clinton people too. That's not where John's heart is, but he is at a point of maximum leverage now. We want to see what each of you is thinking."
My initial reaction was that this was a nonstarter. Of course we wanted Edwards's support and his message was certainly closer in spirit to ours than it was to Hillary's. But political deals like this rarely work: people see right through them.
Plus I couldn't imagine Obama agreeing this far out to lock in his running mate without going through any process or even being certain that we would be the ones making a selection.
Obama's answer was quick and firm: he would cut no deals. If he won, he did not want to be locked in to any personnel matters, and he had little interest in deciding on a vice presidential pick in the heat of the primary campaign.
The Edwards aide later said that Clinton's campaign seemed to want it more, an assertion Plouffe didn't believe. Edwards eventually endorsed Obama.
Hat tip: RTB
Comments
Re: Edwards offered to quit for VP slot
November 18, 2009 - 8:52am — domewatcherSo Obama turns down Edwards and picks Biden?
I would have preferred as VP that guy getting paid $400 for a haircut. Just on the surface I would think that he/she is the smarter of the three. Imagine what that guy could do with the Federal Budget? Imagine how good a salesman you have to be to get someone to pay you $400 for a haircut.
Re: Edwards offered to quit for VP slot
November 17, 2009 - 10:18pm — cmitchzYou'd pretty much have to be a complete idiot to be shocked that as empty a suit as John Edwards would try to cut a deal in order to get into power. Not surprising, then, that the empty-headed college kids who spend five hours a day on sites like TPM and Kos, and the 45 fringe lefty bloggers in Asheville, totally bought into Edwards' schtick.
Re: Edwards offerred to quit for VP slot
November 17, 2009 - 10:56am — tarheel73Speaking as a Democrat, there is nothing noble about putting the entire Democratic ticket at risk with the secret John Edwards was carrying. While I believe he truly cares about representing the poor and working families in America, he put all this at risk as he chose to pursue a very personal fancy. And no, Mr. Edwards' elected political career is over for the foreseeable future. There are too many unanswered questions and doubts about his truthfulness. Who would want to see all those ugly TV commercials bought and paid for by right wing zealots?
Re: Edwards offerred to quit for VP slot
November 17, 2009 - 8:48am — domewatcherI believe that John was only thinking about the poor people. He was willing to take second spot just to make sure the poor would be represented. How very noble of John. How about John to run against Sen. Burr. John has the experience and name recognition.