Smart Move: Obama Knew Early On He Didn't Need John Edwards' PR Help
On Sunday, Taegan Goddard's Political Wire ran a short blip from political strategist and Obama heavyweight David Plouffe's new book, The Audacity to Win. The book quote points to former Presidential hopeful John Edwards. After deciding his campaign was finally kaput, Edwards apparently tried to turn his loss into an endorsement bargaining chip laid on the table between remaining candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. An Edwards aide indicated that Edwards might be willing to jump ship to Team Obama ship to help defeat Mrs. Clinton. According to the Goddard post, Plouffe writes in the book that Obama's response to Edwards "was quick and firm: he would cut no deals."
An endorsement, including any bestowed by a former candidate who has bowed out of a race, can provide a powerful channel to help shape a public persona and political identity for a candidate, not to mention influence voting behavior. Many, if not most voters, rarely follow candidates closely enough to have more than just a passing familiarity with their political ideologies, and thus often turn to non-political cues such as endorsements to ultimately make voting decisions.
At the time when Edwards apparently courted the Obama campaign, news had not yet leaked of his now infamous dalliance and affair with Rielle Hunter that for any foreseeable amount of time has cost him his political future, dragged his reputation through the mud, and made him the laughingstock of late-night comics.
Looking back, we bet Obama is glad this is one deal he didn't make.
At the time when Edwards apparently courted the Obama campaign, news had not yet leaked of his now infamous dalliance and affair with Rielle Hunter that for any foreseeable amount of time has cost him his political future, dragged his reputation through the mud, and made him the laughingstock of late-night comics.
Looking back, we bet Obama is glad this is one deal he didn't make.
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