[Full disclosure: I still don't like John Edwards, and I'm still not even a Democrat.]
Watching Edwards supporters struggle with the question of whether or not to still vote for their candidate takes me back to the spring of 2004, when us Deaniacs were faced with the same decision. We had it harder in some ways. The pressure that was put on us to switch was far more intense than anything I've seen so far this year. We also had it a little easier, in that Dean specifically asked us to keep fighting for delegates.
What each individual Edwards supporter should do, I can't say....
I think a lot of it depends on why you supported him in the first place.
If you were just looking for someone who could beat the Republican, then I think you will switch, which makes perfect sense. But if Edwards was the only candidate who articulated your issues, I would encourage you to stick with him. Your vote is your voice in this political system, and whoever wins the nomination, it's worth reminding them that some of their constituents feel very strongly about certain things. And no election is as important as not falling silent about the things that matter.
So...for those of you who are still committed to voting for Edwards, I offer up this small homage from a Deaniac who voted for her guy in April 2004, two full months after he had withdrawn from the race.
(It was the vote of a lifetime.)
This is one of my very favorite posts from the old Dean for America blog. It was posted the evening of the Montana primary, the very last one on the 2004 schedule...behind even New Jersey, because of the time difference. The title is mine.
THE LAST VOTE FOR DEAN
Well, today was finally the day, June 8th 2004.
The polls here in Montana close two hours after New Jersey. I milled around our small community center until two minutes till 8:00 PM. I saw a man come out and get the flag indicating the polling location. I quickly stepped in the door with my voter I.D. card in hand. They said, you are just in time. I signed in and got a ballot. The old style ones you colored in a circle with a pencil. Howard was not listed, so I wrote him in and colored in the write-in circle.
I went through this last-minute strategy knowing it was very likely that I would cast the last Presidential Primary vote for Howard Dean in this election cycle.
After 17 long months as a Deaniac, I finally did my duty.
Don't let anyone tell you that you are throwing your vote away by voting for the candidate who speaks for you. We should all be so lucky as to have that opportunity in every election.