Dave Winer

Would it have mattered? Seriously, would this cause you to vote for McCain instead? - Brent Logan

"Shudder" doesn't cover it. Yikes! - Joanmarie

Brent it would not cause me to, but it might cause quite a few "undecideds" to decide. And if the election were pretty close.... - Joanmarie

Brent, I think something like this would have the potential to disrupt a campaign in a big way. Wouldn't matter to many people, but those on the fence, it certainly would. - John Walker

Well I hope I have the opportunity to vote for Elizabeth Edwards for president in 2016. - Adam Mordecai

I always wonder about those on the fence. Even with McCain being a "maverick," the differences between him and either Obama or Edwards is immense. What are those on the fence waiting for? And then I wonder if those on the fence aren't smarter than I am, that maybe someone's claimed policy isn't worth that much if he has no integrity. Doesn't it make more sense to vote for character? And I'm stuck looking for integrity in this race? - Brent Logan

It wouldn't have stopped me for voting for him, but it certainly would have destroyed his campaign and he would not have been elected. Such is the nation in which we live. What bothers me, I suppose, about Edwards, is what bothers me about many politicians. Their arrogance causes them to believe that they will never be caught for the things they do. You simply cannot hide your skeletons when you run for President (unless you get your father or his appointees to seal records and hide them for you). - Dennis Metzcher

Brent, no of course I would have voted for the Democrat. But he would have lost anyway, not that he would have gotten the nomination, he would have withdrawn in disgrace once it came out as it was sure to. I'm surprised he didn't understand that. He couldn't have been President, all he could have done was destroy the Democratic Party. - Dave Winer

And it's not about the people on the fence -- it's about the press. They have the power to delete a candidate. Look what they did to Dean. - Dave Winer

If Edwards had won the nomination, he wouldn't have had enough free time to go back to the hotel and get caught ;-) - Kirk Kittell

Edwards made a big mistake by running. He had a shot at a cabinet position in the new administration, although his confirmation hearing was a hurdle he would have had trouble with. He should have kept his dick in his pants. What an idiot. Unbelievably stupid, self-destructive. - Dave Winer

Now everyone should have a good idea why HRC can't be the Democratic nominee for VP. The skeletons in her closet are much worse, and they aren't in the closet. Obama didn't call her on it, and the press gave her a pass in the primary. It wouldn't happen in the fall, she'd be held to account for them, there was outright bribery in the last days of the Clinton Administration, and she was part of it. Not a bystander. - Dave Winer

@Dave Winer (davew): You're right, it would have basically given the nomination to the Republicans. Whether right or wrong, something like this can be a deal-breaker for many people. The Rupublicans' attacks would have probably tied to him to Bill Clinton and all that good stuff. - Thomas B via NoiseRiver

Well, whatever way you look at it, the candidate has the power to delete the candidate. They all know, or should know, the the forum they're competing in. - John Walker

@Brent Logan: Probably not, but the media frenzy alone would have destroyed his candidacy. - Pete Brown

only in america .. prissy folks - Gregory Lent

I don't get the claim that the differences between Obama and McCain are "immense." Ever looked at the spread of various European political parties? McCain and Obama aren't all that different from each other, but in America their differences are viewed as some huge political chasm. It's weird. - David Worrell

immoral? yes, but it doesn't necessarily make him a bad leader. - Bob Blunk

people in other nations never understand how Americans view taxes. McCain and Obama have very different tax policies and thus are immensely different candidates. - Occasional Headbanger

Would you refuse to buy a product from a company because the CEO screws around? Would you know anyway? - Ian May

Andrew, that's crap - no one likes taxes. Ian: Many people in America probably would do just that, if corporations made a habit of running advertising campaigns the way politicians run political campaigns. - David Worrell

@David Worrell - I only need to look at the US to see why I happily pay higher taxes. - sebmos

He would have moved to the center to capture swing votes like Obama and diluted his base. - Andy Wibbels

jeez, if having affairs impaired the ability to do your job, the world would be in the tank - Gregory Lent

I am never happy about paying taxes, particularly as much of it is wasted in bureaucratic inefficiency. Governments never do anything as cost-effectively as private enterprise . - Ian May

It wouldn't matter for democrats. Look at Obama. He could slaughter a lamb on stage and people would cheer him. - Spencer

Dave's right on this one. Edwards had a clear shot at a cabinet position. His arrogance in thinking that he could hide the affair shows poor judgement and would have been great fodder for the Republican candidate. - Jim McCusker