Gabriel,
Rudy needed to drop out. He did what he could for 9/11, but he won’t do much good for us in the Presidential Office. As for Edwards, I am surprised that he quit. It makes you wonder if he plans to team up with a canidate as he did with Kerry. Who knows, maybe!

Im sorry to see Rudy Guiliani be overshadowed by Mitt and McCain. Mayor Guiliani reduced crime by over 50 percent in NYC and got 640,000 able-bodied people off welfare, saving taxpayers a lot of money. I don’t know what people are looking for in a President if not this kind of proven experience and leadership. Maybe he will be of some service to our nation with the new administration.

Hi Gabriel,

I’m sorry to hear Edwards is dropping out of the race. Unfortunately, the members of the media have been so focused on Billary and Obama, that Edwards never got a fair shake. I hope he’ll consider running next time.
I wish I had an inkling of whom to vote for, but alas, my homework for the upcoming election isn’t even close to being done.

Xtina,
I’m sorry but I have to say that no One man got 640,000 people to work. If someone doesn’t want to work, they are not going to work. If you live where I live, you would see that it is near impossible to get a job if you lose your job, and if you do get a job it is for atleast $2 less then what you were making at your previous job. He didn’t reduce crime either, the police force did. Ask a policeman or fireman if they like Rudy Guiliani. I have heard radio broadcasts of firemen saying they hated him. His term was not his work, it was the work of the residents of New York. Rudy just so happened to be in the spot light because of 9/11. As far as him saving taxpayers money, KEEP DREAMING! We still have to pay taxes regardless of those who now work. People are looking for a President that is not going to try and take all the credit for doing nothing. Rudy has good morals and beliefs, but give me a break, NO ONE MAN will change the world on his own! We have to work together as a human race to get the results we are looking for, and I will never vote for a person who claims to have done all these things by themselves!

Hi Gabriel. Edwards dropping out makes me both sad and relieved. He was my candidate, but he also didn’t have much of a chance. Now my choice on Super Tuesday will be less complicated. Long before anyone had their hat in this race I dreamed of an Edwards/Obama ticket. Perhaps I’ll end up getting the reverse, which is good too.

Gabriel,

Frankly, it was just a matter of time before Giuliani dropped out; he was living a dream. Unfortunately for Edwards with all the media coverage being given to Clinton and Obama over their petty little bickering he didn’t stand a chance.

Jo Ann
North Royalton, Ohio

Obama and Clinton were always touted by the media as the darlings so Edwards never had a real chance to begin with! I think he is more of a real person than either of them! Atleast he is being realistic in his chances and isn’t staying on and making himself look dumb like some others.

I guess this gives CNN what they really wanted all along…a two horse race! Or shall I say their fav against the “stunt” puller as you all call her!

Cynthia, Covington, Ga.

I think that Rudy was the front runner on the GOP side in the beginning because he was a familiar face and people had a warm and cozy feeling about him, based on the hype about the aftermath of 911. Since the other GOP candidates have been making themselves well known, in addition to learning who Rudy is these past weeks…he was not the first choice any longer. I think ROMNEY and McCAIN overpowered the know-how and experience to be a President.

I think Edwards just fizzled out because he didn’t have as much media coverage and he wasn’t as well liked as some might think. I also feel that he as the stigma attached to him of a CLINTON follower; which in itself is negative.

Personally, I think AMERICA needs a business plan – and a President who can understand how this should be done…not the typical politician/former lawyer type. I believe that ROMNEY is the ticket for this term.

I blame the media for Edwards’ leaving the race. Everyone was so focused on Obama and Clinton that Edwards’ messege got lost in the shuffle. I am very sad that such a great American did or could not keep up wit the ” Star power” of the Clinton/Obama spats. All the media either portrayed Hillary or Barack as the ” Frontrunner, and therefore no one really payed much attention to John Edwards.

Hi Gabriel, I knew at some point Mr. Edwards might drop out of the race, though I thought he’d wait and see what happens on Super Tuesday before doing so. So would he endorse Clinton or Obama? I’m not sure he feels strongly enough for either candidate to make an endorsement, but we’ll see.

As for Mr. Giuliani, clearly it was a mistake to not campaign in the states before Florida. I wondered about his strategy all along. I guess you can’t underestimate the power of momentum, which he obviously didn’t have.

Thanks,
Lilibeth
Edmonds, Washington

I am pleased Mr. Edwards dropped out of the presidential race. As I am from North Carolina I am very familiar with Mr. Edwards and I am not impressed. Mr. Edwards was elected to the Senate and did not bother to really start let alone finish his term as a Senator before deciding to run as a Vice Presidential candidate in 2004. His claims to be “for the people” are a joke. His headquarters are based in the most expensive section of Chapel Hill and he recently finished construction of his new 30, 000 square foot , multi-million dollar house - oh how this just screams ‘I am for the people’. And let us not forget the $400 haircut - memories of Bill Clinton abound.

Furthermore he and his wife made the announcement her cancer has returned and did his stand by his family’s side during this incredibly trying time - no he did not. He decided to gallivant all over the country to feed his own narcissistic ego. If this man cannot bother to stand by his own family in a time of need how can we, as a country, expect him to make the right decisions as President. His show of “love” for his family and his wife are deplorable. I could just imagine what kind of President he would make.

I appreciate the passion he had about changing the future for the poor people.Good man .My best wishes for him and his family.

Hi Gabriel,

It’s disgusting how the media focused on these two pukes (Obama and Clinton) and paint them as little darlings. Does anyone really think these two are going to approve the average American’s quality of life if they get into office? Not if they keep accepting bribes, I mean donations from special interest groups.and corporations that fund their campaigns. Wake up America and start looking at the track records of these candiates before we’re stuck with another boob in the White House. We can’t afford 4 more years of someone with an IQ of 20. When are we, as a nation, going to learn?

It’s possible that John Edwards suspended his campaign, because he felt so passionately about the plight of the people in New Orleans. John Edwards might have felt that if he had continued in the race, the importance of solving the poverty and housing problems there would be squelched by all the political frontloading that goes along with campaigning. He did the right thing, not endorsing either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama (let them do their own talking), but rather John Edwards got their word that poverty and housing would be at the forefront of their campaign. It’s sad people are still stymied by colour and race, blinded by image and empty inspiration. John Edwards was beyond that and truly made the effort to get the message out about the conditions in New Orleans, by sacrificing his campaign.

I’m not at all surprised about Edwards. He seems a likeable guy, he just didn’t have the intensity that Clinton and Obama have.

Rudy kind of fizzled out before he even got started. Before primary season got under way, he looked promising. Oh well!

Everyone was so focused on two people who might make history, because of the media, but failed to look at a man to whom was my JFK of my time. I have not been a fan of Hillary since she aloud her husband to keep on making advances at other women, and Kept excepting his apologies, that makes for a leader!!! Edwards is the real deal. His wife and family life is what America is lacking in along with faith. They are camelot. The media caused this to happen as they do for the stars in hollywood. They decide who will be popular for the week. Shame on you. I hardly heard anything of Mr. Edwards or others, is was very unfair. Maybe just maybe the outcome would have been different. Ive had enough of Bush/Clinton for the last 20 years. Im disgusted with how “we the people” become manipulated by the news.

Due to his disappointing lost in South Carolina, It’s inevitable that John Edwards would drop out of the presidential race at some point or the other. Thank God he did it before Super Tuesday which saves him the embarrassment of another disappointing election. However, I do think he did the honorable thing of stepping aside which sets the stage for both Hillary Clinton and Barack Oboma heavyweight fight on Super Tuesday.

Two little words why John Edwards dropped out of the presidental race, THE MEDIA. From the get go the media have wanted a head-to-head race between Obama and Clinton, and now they have it. They paid very little attention to Edwards, it was all about Barack & Hillary. I am sorry he has dropped out before Super Tuesday, I was planning on voting for him, now I have a tough decision to make on who to vote for.
By the way, I don’t really like your characterization in your opening that there is a “bitter rivalry” between Barak and Hillary. To me this is just another attempt by the media and pundits to cause dissention between the candidates. True, there is a rivalry between them, but it is nowhere near bitter. Bitter conotates they detest each other, which is not the case at all. They both admire and respect each other and are striving for the same goal. It is time the media tone down their retoric and focus on where the candiates stand on the issues, rather than trying to instigate trouble.

I’m trying to remember the last time that we were down to only TWO candidates this early in the race. I wonder if Edwards will endorse someone or not. Especially after the beating he took in the debate last week when the other two were in the middle of the schoolyard yelling contest.

Lewis
Portland, Oregon
http://www.spiritofsaintlewis.blogspot.com

“As for the republicans, another shake-up, but one not as surprising. Like Edwards, Rudy Giuliani is also exiting the race.”

I don’t think Edwards’ departure was a surprise at all. In fact, I’m sure everyone expected it except Edwards himself. He tried to keep it going as long as he could but finally realized what everyone knew all along — he was going no where.

Ry

I guess when all is said and done, it comes down to money or star power that keeps you in a race. I just hope whoever ends up being President will end this miserable divide between parties. I’ve never seen such bitter talk that Americans are throwing at each other. Just who is a Democrat, Republican or Independent? It’s all of us..Americans. We really all deep down want the same thing. But as with any democracy, the majority of opinions rule. Sometimes we all have to compromise on some issues. That’s what being an adult and civil means to me.

Lorie Ann
Buellton, Calif.

I am sorry to see Edwards out of the race. Now Nader will jump in, and try to spoil everything again. Where is Nader for the four years between elections, anyway?

And Gabriel, why ‘bitter rivals.” I feel the news and print media are covering the elections like a reality show, American Gladiator, or something. They are two human beings, competitive, trying to win the nomination of their party. In six months they won’t be ‘bitter rivals’, they’ll be trying to elect a Democrat to office to try to undue (if possible) the mess Bush will leave them.

Words are powerful things.

At some point the field would have had to be winnowed. I expected that to happen after Super Tuesday, so the timing of today’s withdrawals does surprise me. I don’t expect Edwards to endorse anyone right now, although he may do so eventually. Personally, I’m not sure endorsements by anyone really make much of a difference, be they by celebrities or by other politicians.

The debates this week should be very interesting! Hopefully we’ll actually get to hear some real debating. But poor Wolf and Anderson sure had a last minute wringer thrown into their preparations! Pros that they are, I’m sure all will come off well.

Is anyone else having a problem with this new blog? I use Vista with IE 7 and a broadband connection , and I can barely get it to load. Mostly it just stalls when I try to access it. I’m not sure what I did to get it to work just now. But that’s why I’m not blogging much today!

Frankly Giuliani was extremely naive to think he could all but ignore the earlier states and just focus on Florida, it has a lot of delegates, yes, but you can’t underestimate momentum. He took a huge risk which, when all is said and done, he paid a huge price for. I certainly wish him well, and who knows… VP anyone?

As for Edwards I’m not surprised. He was simply overshadowed, which considering the spotlight that was on the Hil from the start it’s understandable. I’m impressed at how well Barack is doing, he didn’t start out with the same attention, but he’s definitely holding his own.

I’m not really one for politics, but this has defintely been interesting to see.

Cheers,
Jennifer

I agree with John Edwards, It is time to say goodbye. His message was heard, he got the pledge from Obama and Hillary to keep the poverty issue on the center of this campaign and now he will have more time with his family. Nothing to be ashamed of, he did a good job.

Giuliani, on the other hand, was an example of a very bad managed campaign. An awful strategy that will keep the American Government class at high schools and colleges busy for a while. This guy should retire from politics for good and dedicate himself to his business where he has done very well.

One word of advise to CNN. Keep doing what you are doing with the republican campaign. Great job! BUT with the democratic campaign, please don´t make so obvious your support to Barack Hussein Obama. That will take a toll on your credibility, and very few recover from that. Please take my sound advise.

January 30
I found an interesting article in the Washington Monthly by
Ted Widham titled:

Ask Not

about why Obama is not a JFK.

I do not think he is ready to be the leader of the free world per my own research about voting, travel, senate bills presented etc. That do not really put him up there with the experienced.

Maybe another time. Right now I want someone with a few lessons learned, experienced resources and determination.

I support Hillary and if I can’t have her then McCain is fine with me…he also has shown his worth to me.

Change is a pretty general term…..if that means improvements, less waste, a balanced budget, a stong military, good health care, good schools…then what is so new about wanting that?
Does is take a dreamer or hoper, or does it take a doer, a fighter….maybe some of each….but at this time with so much that is really complicated I prefer experience and that means Hillary or John. I do not really care about the party at this time and I remember Camelot…it was a play with an unhappy ending….
Too much has been left unclear about Mr. Obama and the other two have lttle to wonder about.
Too much has been laid on Bill Clinton and too much time taken trying to pretend Obama is not black…if we do not care, and I do not, then just let it go for pete’s sake.
I think it has been more about gender and see that Hillary really gets the lions share of bad press.
Read a piece by Ted Widham in the Washington Monthly if you want a clearer picture about why JFK was JFK and why Obama is not. And, remember so far more Kennedys support HIllary and Ted does not have much sway with me….I remember his misadventures too…his work in the Senate I chalk up to payback for his misdeeds.

After watching CNN = Politics, Anderson Cooper and previous reports on Katrina, I want to say my heart goes out to them struggling to even have a place to live. My question is: Right after Katrina and everyone was displaced many well-known bands and singers held concerts to raise money for Katrina. After years of nothing being done, what happened to all that money raised by those bands and singers? To my estimation, the money raised by said concerts should have been in place to start taking care of that devastation. It seems to me that within the year of Katrina the rebuilding process should have started immediately. And still the destruction exists all the way to the poorest sections of New Orleans. So again, I ask, “Where did that money go?”

For the record mine has been stalling too. I think its because every time someone leaves a comment it reloads itself.

Anyway being on topic, I have to say I am upset about Edwards. He was defiantly my favorite if I ignored the polls. I’m kind of sad that he dropped out today, the debate with just Obama and Clinton will be lethal. Maybe Bill Clinton should be up there too.

I think Edwards realized that a presidential bid was out there he needs to start focusing on the job he was made for VP.

As for Guliani he needed to just bow out. I think that the debate tonight will just be agonizing if him and Paul take part.

The voting public should have an opportunity to examine all of the candidates in depth, but that’s difficult when most of the media focuses only on the front runners which is what appears to have happened in the case of John Edwards, a good candidate who didn’t get a fair shake.

As far as Giuliani goes, the New York Times scathing commentary on how he ran his campaign and also his tenure as mayor of NYC makes me very relieved he’s out of the race.

I hated to see Rudy have to exit the race. I believe he is an extremely intelligent man and great leader. Perhaps his strategy was off key and he should have campaigned in the first states.

I am sorry to hear that John Edwards is leaving the race. I am also fed up with the political structure of Primaries — where the candidate is decided by a few and the press that influences the vote. The press elect the nominees with limited focus. This should be illegal. All participants need to receive equal time.

When are we ever - if ever - going to stand up for REAL CHANGE in the political structure and demand ONE NATIONAL PRIMARY and an election within weeks of that.
We need to limit the political spending and have our elected officials in office and not on the campaign trail - so they are doing what we pay them to do.

The ENTIRE process needs to limited to 3 months.

I vote to CHANGE THE POLITICAL GAME.

It is sad to see him leave, but we all saw this coming and it would be nieve to say that he didn’t himself. There is most likely a bigger strategy here for who he’ll join with. If he really did care about the issues he would announce his endoursement or who he would like to run with before super Tuesday or not at all. I think it would look like he was just searching for the candidate who would most likely win by waiting until after Tuesday and would be a crime against his character and the reputation he has built up for focusing on what matters. I, personally, hope he and senator Obama will join forces and stand for true change without anything left out, even party divisions.

Hi,

I am very sorry this is extremely off topic, but I am very tired of people saying that Hillary is the first female presidential candidate- it seems as some don’t know that Shirley Chisholm ran as a democratic candidate in 1972.

I think that John Edwards just got lost in between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. The excitement of having the first woman and first African American to run for the presidency, seemed to leave Edwards always the outsider struggling to be heard. I also happen to think that being on the losing ticket in the last election did not help at all. No one wants to repeat failure. He was someone who had tried once, but did not succeed. His message was important, but I think that Obama and Hillary have proven quite capable of carrying it forward. So, in the end, he just seemed irrelevant. I am glad that he got out before super Tuesday. It would just have been even more embarrassing. No one wants to be known as a loser.

As for Giuliani, I happen to think the New York Times said it best. They really told it like it is and I can’t do any better. I can just say, bravo, bravo! This man was a complete fear monger and hypocrite. I was personally disgusted by his blatant attempt to exploit the tragedy of 9/11 for his own political ambitions. His strategy wasn’t a strategy, it was wishful thinking. Let’s see, skip the early primaries where we can’t win and hope no one notices. Then pick one state where there are a lot of transplanted New Yorkers and hope for a huge victory. Thank goodness, transplanted New Yorkers and the rest of the voting public was not fooled by this contemptible man. All I can say is it’s about time and good riddance!

The race is going to be even more exciting and interesting with Ralph Nader entering the race. It will definitely upset the power of interest groups and corporate oil and pharmaceutical lobbyists who are clearly supporting Hillary. The Nader crowd will suck the oxygen out of Hillary. The latest Zombie poll indicates a McCain win if Hillary were the nominee without taking Nader into consideration. The Democrats have a clear choice. Either they nominate Obama for change or stick with same old Clinton. A three way match among McCain, Nader and Clinton will definitely put McCain in the White House. Nader had done it twice in 2000 and 2004 depriving both Al Gore and Kerry of the Presidency. If the Democrats wants change they should take a deep breathe and understand that the status quo will not win. Nader will bring some common sense in the heads of Democrats. With Nader in the equation, the prospects of Hillary winning the White House are getting slimmer. Hillary comes with so much baggage of scandals and drama. She will not win because she is perceived as not trustworthy, not having the strength of character and lacking moral leadership required to lead the country.
Same old dirty politics of lies, misrepresentations and distortions will not carry the day for Hillary.

The United States is going to be very well served by President Barack Obama and Vice President John Edwards.

Both of these individuals carry boldly the core values of American people and both have the ethics, intelligence, know how and backing to bring the United States back to the world stage as leaders and as a country of citizens with hope, opportunity and an improved quality of life that enhances everyone’s sense of well being and safety, as individuals, families and as a country, along with an increased sense of productivity, wealth, education, access to healthcare and heightened self esteem as individuals and as a nation.

These are exciting times for the United States !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

President Barack Obama and Vice President John Edwards have a place in their policies for all Americans.

I think Edwards and Giuliani are out because of their own track records in the past and during this campaign. I have to agree. A man who puts a presidential run over his wife’s battle with cancer is not a man in my opinion. And neither is a man who uses the tragedy of 9/11 for his own gain. This primary and caucus circus produces way too much drama and eats up way too much energy considering that all but two of these people will never see their names on the November ballot. I’ll be so happy when these outlier candidates are no longer an issue, two candidates are selected, and the real race is won. I just hope Americans are smart enough to read through the media hype and choose the candidate who can best lead our country in all areas, not just a chosen few.

Anyone from the NYC area who knows Rudy knows his problem. He’s very heavy handed, and the NYTimes opinion — while unnecessarily scathing — wasn’t all too far off. His true personality was bound to show through and he’s simply not very likable — especially to Southerners.

Edwards, while a nice guy, comes across as being slick and patronizing from his legal training. True or not, it’s how he’s perceived.

But this is not why I’m writing. I just want to tell someone to have your guests use the phrase “mano a mano” correctly (from earlier in the day). It means hand to hand, not man to man. There was a reference alluding to mano a mano as not being applicable to Hillary, and it surely is. She may not be a man, but I’m sure she could (and would) punch someone.

Much love –

MM

I expected Rudy to drop out. I think he learned the hard way that you can’t take short cuts to get to the White House. By skipping the first few caucuses and primaries he was implicitly implying that those states didn’t count with him.

I really regret that Edwards pulled out of the race. I was hoping that Super Tuesday would give him enough delegates for him to negotiate with the front runner for a position in the new administration should the Democrats win. Edwards was a good candidate - he was for the little man; the man who is so mired in poverty that he can’t climb out. Unfortunately Edwards didn’t get the coverage he deserved because the press was too busy trying to make an issue out of race and gender.

I wish Edwards and his family the best and I hope he will find a way to serve our country and the people that he wanted to represent.

Now I’ve got to figure out who I’m going to vote for with Edwards gone!

Annie Kate
Birmingham AL

I am so very tired of watching the current president smirk for seven years, and I was very offended by the smirk on Senator McCain’s face tonight whenever either Governor Huckabee or Congressman Paul were speaking. They both spoke intelligently, and what they said deserved a polite hearing. What does it say about Senator McCain that he cannot be respectful to his opponents? Can you imagine someone with that attitude conducting foreign affairs?

What’s going on?? Hey there’s still Americans in what, 40+ states and others around the world, with a say in the matters of this country !!

I was undecided on all three of them and I agreed with his stance on issues.

I would have liked to have heard more from him tomorrow.

It was a bonus that he didn’t want to take lobbyist money for his campaign. It reminds me of a line from “Man of the Year” where he mentions how they take support from these companies and lobbyist and then end up having to pay back the support in favors for them so it is politics as usual.

Hopefully a really good person will win and truly reform this country for the good.

As a North Carolinian, I am very proud of John Edwards. Despite all the Republican rhetoric to the contrary, he was a good senator and has been good for North Carolina. He beat the Jesse Helms machine, didn’t he?
If Hillary Clinton is not the Democratic nominee, I will be voting for whoever is the Republican nominee.
Now a question for CNN, Anderson Cooper, and Wolf Blitzer: When do you expect to begin REPORTING THE NEWS again instead of ATTEMPTING TO MAKE THE NEWS? I’m sick of your attempts to manipulate the American voters i.e.your attempts to choose the next nominees for President and to coerce us to elect the CANDIDATE OF YOUR CHOICE. I have always admired Anderson, but I’m fast losing my respect for him. REPORT THE NEWS PLEASE! Stop trying to make the news what you want it to be!

Did I not hear Carl Bernstein say tonight that “Hillary Clinton has a problem with honesty”? Is a CNN commentator calling a candidate for president a liar? How does he get away with that? Are there no standards or guidelines for commentators? That man needs to control his mouth, show some respect, and go shuffle papers in a back room. He really crossed the line tonight.

I thought McCain was surly in tonight’s debate as well. His response on handling the economy was absurd! How does commanding a group of soldiers qualify him to oversee the largest economy in the world? Yet that was his response.

Also, much ado was made of Gov. Schwartzenegger’s coming endorsement of Senator McCain - Amy Holmes thinks his organization in the state will be of great help to McCain. Hello! The election is in less than a week! Even Arnold can’t work those kinds of miracles.

Well, it’s always hard for this Democrat to sit through a Republican debate. I am truly looking forward to tomorrow night’s two person Democrat debate. Hopefully we will get some real answers from Senator Obama this time.