Dark Side of the Campaign

As for the late-breaking John Edwards endorsement, I watched him on the tube a few days ago saying his backing wouldn't matter very much at this stage. I agree with him. But the media love endorsements, he led all the evening newscasts, in part because his appearance with Obama was timed for the 6:30 programs. In fact, ABC's "World News" switched to the event live as Edwards joined Barack on stage in Michigan. "This is the kind of publicity that you can't buy," Charlie Gibson observed.

Chris Matthews asked whether Edwards might be Obama's running mate. Hasn't he already been there, done that?

The MSM applauds the move. NYT: "Offering potential help in his efforts to win over working class white voters in the general election."

Boston Globe: "Especially valuable to Obama, acting as a balm for his bruising loss in West Virginia and giving him a symbolic lift as he courts white, working-class voters."

Chicago Tribune: "An effort to transfer his appeal among white, working-class voters to a Democratic front-runner who has struggled to win them over."

LAT: "A blow to Hillary Rodham Clinton, whose bid for the Democratic nomination appears all but lost."

WP: "Sends a strong signal that Edwards, at least, thinks the nomination battle is over."

Daily News: "A dramatic move that brings Obama ever closer to donning the party's crown."

Perhaps it will do more than Ted Kennedy's embrace did for Obama in Massachusetts.

Some questions from Mark Halperin: "1. Would Edwards consider being on an Obama-Edwards ticket, although he ruled out such a thing a few weeks ago?

"2. What will Elizabeth Edwards do -- or will she do nothing?

"3. How many hours and hours of cable TV coverage in the next two days will be devoted to speculation about whether the endorsement will help Obama with white, working-class voters?"