John Edwards Drops White House Bid

John Edwards ended his presidential bid today in front of a Habitat for Humanity site in New Orleans. Edwards reiterated his confidence that "a proud progressive will occupy the White House" in 2008, but “It’s time for me to step aside so that history can blaze its path.” The third-place Dem had failed to capture a silver or gold in any primary since his second-place finish in Iowa.

Edwards said both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama had pledged to him that they would make poverty and economic justice central to their campaigns, and their presidencies. No endorsement of a rival was expected immediately, though top adviser Joe Trippi said Obama and Clinton were “banging down the doors.” (More John Edwards stories.)