Edwards Launches New Ad, Has Tantrum

Ex-U.S. Senator John Edwards (D-NC) has launched his second Iowa TV ad. The :30 second ad can be seen here:

This ad, heralded in an e-mail missive to supporters from the campaign's cyber guru Joe Trippi promised it'd have people "talking" and show that Edwards will really shake-up Washington. The ad falls flat, much like the candidate is doing.
But what's really got people yakking is Edward's refusal to support the Democratic nominee for President should it be Hillary Clinton. In response to the standard question, would you support (insert candidate's name) if they were the nominee, most candidates respond "I am a Democrat/Republican I will support the nominee."

Even U.S. Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) said he'd support he nominee (with it the implication it would be Rudy Giuliuni) before he dropped out of his Republican Presidential quest. Brownback and Rudy have a core difference on the issue of abortion. But in their differences, party unity still won out.

But not with John Edwards and the Democrats or at least with Clinton.

Edwards responded to a reporter when asked about supporting Hillary Clinton if she were the nominee:

"I'm not willing to talk about that at this point," [Edwards] said, waiting silently until the next question was asked."

An average of the national polls show the race at Clinton 45.7, Obama 23.2 and Edwards 12.4%. In Iowa, Clinton 29.9, Obama 24.8 and Edwards 19.1%. And in New Hampshire, Clinton 39.3, Obama 21.7% and Edwards 12.7%

U.S. Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) has injected himself into this story by issuing a statement in response to the Edwards lack of unity with fellow Democratic candidates, stating:

"I am surprised at just how angry John has become. This is not the same John Edwards I once knew. Of course, we should all come together to support the nominee. I wonder which of the Republicans John prefers to Hillary?"

Craig Crawford of the Congressional Quarterly is now suggesting that if John Edwards looses Iowa, that he'll endorse U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) in order to block Clinton.

It's hard to remember the last time someone won a partisan primary when showing so little graciousness and ultra-radicalism.

UPDATE (11/14/07): CNN reports that a day after Edwards would not answer the question about supporting Clinton as the Democratic nominee, he answered that he would support her.