The presidential campaign moved to its next stage Wednesday as Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., dropped out of the race while President Bush and Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., prepared for their all but certain general election face-off.
Edwards announced his withdrawal in Raleigh, N. C. He urged his supporters to back Kerry, the certain nominee, after his near-sweep of the Super Tuesday primary and caucus states.
\Senator Kerry has fought in this campaign, and he won because his heart is good,"" Edwards said. ""He believes that America is at its best when we all have an equal chance and equal opportunity to do our very best.""
Democratic Party of Wisconsin spokesperson Seth Boffeli said Edwards' campaign still helped the party focus on the issues that mattered.
""He helped galvanize the Democratic message that jobs and the economy and trade are big issues that the Bush record is lacking on,"" Boffeli said.
Kerry also named Jim Johnson, a former assistant to Walter Mondale, head of his vice presidential search committee Wednesday. This early start to the search deviates from the usual process, where the candidate's running mate is picked at the party convention in the summer.
According to Boffeli, the Democrats started the process early this year because they realized they had to do things differently to beat Bush.
""By getting a vice presidential candidate early as opposed to late July, it means that there are two messengers,"" he said. ""We'll have two people out there campaigning and organizing.""
University of North Carolina political science Professor Thad Beyle said Edwards is at the top of Kerry's list of possible running mates.
Beyle added Edwards' chances for the vice-presidency could be boosted by the fact that the Kerry campaign may be looking for a Midwestern or Southern moderate to balance the ticket.
According to Bofelli, in addition to Edwards, Sen. Bob Graham, D-Fla., Rep. Dick Gephardt, D-Mo., and Gov. Bill Richardson, D-N.M., are all good possibilities for running mates.
On the other side of the race, Republican Party of Wisconsin spokesperson Chris Lato said Bush would begin airing campaign ads in Wisconsin today.
""The ads stress a positive message of George W. Bush being the right man for changing times,"" he said. ""He makes the case that the economy is recovering and that national security in these uncertain times is of the utmost importance.\
