Trippi: It's a three-person race

MANCHESTER, N.H.—John Edwards campaign strategist Joe Trippi doesn’t see an Edwards-is-out storyline in tonight’s third-place finish.

"Honest to goodness, there are three people in this race, just as there was in Iowa," Trippi told reporters.
"We're now in the process where we’re going to South Carolina," he said. "The local media are going to see the campaign is three people."

Trippi doesn't think money will be an issue for Edwards, saying he was outspent four-to-one in New Hampshire, six-to-one in Iowa. "Look, that’s the whole point: We didn't have money in Iowa, and we beat (Clinton)," he said. "It's about message. If you have the message you can beat these people."

The real story in New Hampshire, he said, is simple: Is Clinton dead or not?

"Y'know, here we find out, (she's) still alive," Trippi said. "But that's about all you find out. Then you go on to the next page."

Edwards lands in South Carolina next. He has a rally in Clemson scheduled for noon Wednesday.