The Edwards exit speech

Back in New Orleans on a flood-ravaged street, he says it is "time to step aside" and let history be made by one of the two top candidates, with a unified party behind them (that is, he says, if they are willing to take tough stands). Pundits seem divided on whether his exit will most help Obama (uniting the anti-Clinton vote) or Hillary (with women flocking to her plus maybe some others not ready for a younger or black president leaning to her). Edwards reveals that he has talked to Obama and Clinton and that they will make ending poverty and seeking economic equality a central part of their campaigns -- and their presidency. He waves goodbye, and goes off with U2's 'Walk On' ringing out.

Atrios at his Eschaton blog notes wryly: "Maybe if Edwards had announced his exit from the race every week he would have gotten more media coverage." Over at Talking Points memo, Edwards' top guy, Joe Trippi (the former Howard Dean honcho) is claiming that people with Obama and Hillary are “banging down the doors" seeking an endorsement. Given his speech, I doubt it will be coming any time soon, if at all.