Several prominent locals are in mourning today after the favored presidential candidate of many of Portland’s political cognoscenti dropped out of the race.
After disappointing returns in early state primaries, former U.S. Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) announced in New Orleans this morning he’s stepping aside.
“What a way to start the day,” says Jesse Cornett, former vice chairman of the Oregon Democratic Party and an Edwards backer. “I think everyone knew there was an uphill battle, and that there was a way to do it. But just in terms of the way the campaign has gone, it just hasn’t happened.”
Edwards’ key supporters in Oregon, as revealed in a WW story early this month, included Columbia Sportswear Vice President Peter Bragdon, influential Portland developer Homer Williams, lawyer and Democratic rainmaker Robert Stoll, and Kari Chisholm, co-editor of the website Blue Oregon.
Cornett says Edwards was a favorite in Portland because he was uniquely in tune with the city’s political thinking. “He came here several times early on and was willing to talk to business leaders and labor leaders, the whole spectrum,” Cornett says.
The question now is which of Edwards’ chief rivals will get their support, and that of the more workaday Edwards backers around the country. Edwards has declined to endorse either U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) or U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.).
Williams, for one, says he’ll shift to the Clinton camp—though he doesn’t regret his support for Edwards, which included a maximum $2,300 donation. (As noted here, Williams also gave $2,300 to U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) on behalf of his wife.)
“I thought he was the only guy telling the truth: That we’re gonna have to raise taxes to deal with some of these issues,” Williams says of Edwards. “I think once Obama flashed onto the scene, there wasn’t enough space.”
Williams also noted the irony that many national unions went on to support either Obama or Clinton over Edwards. “Who would have thought the unions would be supporting the middle class? But they are,” Williams says.
On the broader question of where everyday supporters here are likely to fall now that Edwards is out, Democratic political consultant Mark Wiener (an Edwards man himself) gives the edge to Obama over Clinton.
“They were the two that were running on sort of a change-the-way-politics-is-done sort of platform,” Wiener says. “I think that Obama just had more sizzle.”
Cornett says he’s undecided about who he’ll support now. He praises both Obama and Clinton. “It’s official today that the nominee for the Democratic Party is either going to be an African American or a woman,” Cornett says. “That is truly historic.”
Portland political activist Steve Novick, a candidate in the 2008 Democratic primary race to run against U.S. Sen. Gordon (R-Ore.), released the following statement:
“As a proud supporter of John Edwards for President, I am truly sorry to see him leave the presidential race. He has consistently driven the policy agenda on everything from health care to global warming to tax fairness. He had the honestly to apologize for his vote on the Iraq War. And John and Elizabeth have been an inspiring example of grace under pressure.
“I know that both Edwardses will continue to speak out on behalf of the least powerful in our society. We need more leaders willing to campaign for minimum wage initiatives, who are willing to own up to their mistakes, who are willing to tell truth to power. I will continue to take inspiration in my own race from the example they have set for all candidates running for office.”
Novick’s main competition in the primary, state House leader Jeff Merkley, was a co-chairman of Edwards’ Oregon campaign.
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Tags: Punched In The Face
I think I’m getting sick. Pathetic people here in Oregon.
Edwards would best serve the US and his family by being home with his ill wife whose breast cancer has revisited. We will elect another clown, and live with the result. It is the American way.