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Democratic Primary 2008: Edwards In, Bayh Out

News has leaked from the John Edwards ur-campaign that the former North Carolina senator and vice presidential candidate will launch a run for president later this month. Edwards, Clinton, and Obama will likely outclass the other contendors for the Democratic nomination, including Al Sharpton, Dennis Kucinich, Tom Vilsack, Joe Biden, Bill Richardson, and others. (And don't forget the ghosts of elections past, Al Gore and John Kerry, who haven't put an end to speculation that they may be running.) To watch John Edwards talk about labor and the economics of the middle class, see this video from Hardball. He's a charming bugger, that Edwards.

One man who won't be running is Indiana Senator and former Indiana Governor Evan Bayh, who people have been discussing as a potential presidential candidate for years. Bayh didn't use the old "more time with family" line when announcing his non-run. He was actually quite forthcoming about the reason: he just couldn't win.

"And whether there were too many Goliaths or whether I'm just not the right David, ... the odds were longer than I felt I could responsibly pursue," Bayh's statement continued. "This path -- and these long odds -- would have required me to be essentially absent from the Senate for the next year instead of working to help the people of my state and the nation."

Bayh has spent a lot of time in Iowa and New Hampshire over the last year or so, which makes this decision to drop out at this point a little curious. Best wishes for continued success in the Senate, Mr. Bayh.

Comments

Wow--what a wild and crazy idea: John Edwards believes in a "Democratic Party that fights for those who have no voice: the forgotten middle class, the poor, those who labored a lifetime, and all those who speak the truth against overwhelming public opinion."
Doesn't it sound as though Edwards is on the right track, addressing the real concerns of working Americans?
AND DON'T WE WISH WE COULD BELIEVE IT!!!!!
Because it bugs the hell out of us that infants are being born "retarded" in this country--all because big tobacco is cozily in bed with gigantic medical industry...
Let's get this straight: years and years ago, Congress laid down the law: cigarette manufacturers had to report to the FDA regarding what additives they were putting in their cigs, upon which the FDA would test these chemicals and report back to Congress. So what happens? Big tobacco takes issue with the FDA having oversight, but then, after years and years of expensive litigation, the courts rule that the FDA does have jurisdiction. BUT THEN IT ALL SIMPLY GRINDS TO A BIG HALT... NO ONE BOTHERS TO ENFORCE THE LAW!!!!!!
So..., WHO'S AFRAID OF TRIAL LAWYER JOHN EDWARDS--apparently no one, because they put whatever they want in cigs: cyanide, ect.--whatever!
So..., no..., don't bother John Edwards, Esq. with trival stuff like saving people from lives ruined at the get-go--he's probably too damn busy trying to increase medical industry profits and "SAVE" social security by killing off the working class elderly (you know, those who labored a lifetime...)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Democratic Primary 2008: Edwards In, Bayh Out

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