John Edwards Endorses Barack Obama

Former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards endorsed front-runner Barack Obama on Wednesday, according to CNN. A milestone endorsement, John Edwards' decision adds momentum to Obama's effort while hurting an already limping Hillary Clinton campaign.

Clinton's camp made little secret of the fact it was aggressively pursuing Edwards' endorsement in hopes that it could derail Obama, who looks likely to capture the party's nomination.

Although he performed well in early states in January, Edwards left the race on Jan. 30. According to The New York Times, Edwards has 19 pledged delegates. The Times puts Obama's delegate count at 1,885. Clinton has 1,711 after Tuesday's 67 percent to 26 percent rout over Obama in West Virginia.

A Good Time for John Edwards' Endorsement

Edward's endorsement couldn't have come at a better time for Obama, despite his seemingly insurmountable lead. His overwhelming loss in West Virginia underscored his weakness with blue-collar white voters, who, pundits say, will be key in November's general presidential election.

Edwards' populist, boost-the-poor message could aid Obama with a demographic that some say sees him as elitist and out-of-touch, labels that could be a death knell for any Democratic presidential nominee.

2008 and Another John Edwards' Endorsement

This is the second time that Edwards' endorsement has figured heavily in the Democratic race. In 2004, shortly after losses to John Kerry in early contests, John Edwards bowed out, backed Kerry and later was tapped by Kerry as his running mate. That ticket lost to President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney later in the fall.

Could Edwards find himself in the No. 2 spot again? He has a much better chance than Clinton, whose harsh criticism and race-tinged rhetoric lately makes her an unlikely choice for Obama.