Election 2008: All change!

Well, what a day for the US Election. After months of sniping between candidates but very little change, suddenly everything has happened over the course of about 24 hours. Let's take a look at what.

McCain wins the Florida Primary

And in doing so becomes the front runner in the Republican race. It is difficult to get too excited about this, as McCain is like 180 or something, but at least he isn't, to use the wonderful phrase of the Moai, a "godbothering nutjob".

Giuliani quits the Republican Race

He had a bold strategy to win the nomination - to not contest the first few primaries, and then win in Florida. Had it worked we would be claiming he is a political genius of the first order. But as it stands, his plan looks beyond stupid. It is, to misquote Edmund Blackadder, a great plan with one key flaw. It was bollocks.

Edwards quits the Democratic Race

For me the most interesting part of the day. Because on so many levels, Edwards should have been the presumptive Democrat nominee. Photogenic, good family, background as a successful lawyer and Senator, previous experience of a national election - he appeared to have everything. So why didn't it happen for the ex Senator from North Carolina?

The Telegraph points to a reason from the Edwards himself:

"The former North Carolina senator... frequently complained of media bias towards the unprecedented combination of a potential first black president and first female president."

Sour grapes?

Yup, sounds like it.

About right?

Yup, sounds like it.

Let's look at how the story plays out in the media. On the one hand, you have a photogenic, articulate, experienced politician running for the highest office in his land. Not unlike Bill Clinton. Or Ronald Reagan. Or John Kennedy. On the flipside you have the first female contender for the Presidency. And the first serious black contender for the Presidency. What makes the best story for the media? The politician who looks like every other white, articulate politician running for the Presidency, or the first serious female candidate, or the first serious black candidate?

Edwards never stood a chance. Even if he had run a better campaign, he never stood a chance.

Because there was a time when an Edwards candidacy would not only have won the Democrat nomination for President, but also would have won the Presidency. Sadly for Edwards, that time was 48 years ago.