Edwards out, no endorsement

From:

"Edwards out, no endorsement

Former Sen. John Edwards is expected to bow out of the Democratic presidential race today. His campaign will end at 1 p.m. in the same place it began: New Orleans, a city that Edwards used to encapsulate his message that Washington has turned a blind eye to the needy.

Edwards, with his populist focus, bested Hillary Clinton in Iowa but couldn’t keep himself afloat for the next three contests. At the same time, Edwards’ second-place Iowa finish meant that he couldn’t even win a state in which he had a top-notch ground organization and a long presence, raising questions about his ability to win in any state. But a tireless Edwards continued on to New Hampshire with a 36-hour campaigning marathon that sought to show presidential stamina.

Politico’s Mike Allen takes stock of Edwards’ woes:

Besides the media fascination with the other candidates, Edwards suffered from image problems, including owning a mansion that conflicted with his “Two Americas” message about the struggles of the underclass. He became wealthy as a trial lawyer, and his casual-Friday-style attire on the campaign trail was not enough to erase perceptions of him as something of a Southern dandy.

The Republican National Committee, and even some of his Democratic critics, constantly invoked the mantra of “house, hedge fund and haircut” to remind people of his grand tastes and lucrative business dealings.

Edwards’ exit makes tomorrow night’s debate in Los Angeles the first one-on-one between Clinton and Barack Obama. He is not expected to immediately endorse either candidate."