Edwards Meets with Obama in NC

From the AP story:

Obama spokesman Bill Burton:

"Senator Obama visited this morning with John and Elizabeth Edwards at their
home in Chapel Hill to discuss the state of the campaign and the pressing issues
facing American families."

Burton did not comment on the possibility of an endorsement.

In an interview Sunday night with WITI-TV in Milwaukee, Obama said,

"The meeting with John, we just wanted to talk about how we can move the party in a direction that focuses on middle-class issues — relieving poverty, reducing the influence of special interests in Washington."

People close to the Edwardses, speaking privately, say they have been torn about whom to support. The former North Carolina senator is concerned that Obama may not be ready for the presidency and that his health care plan is inferior. But Edwards was highly critical of Clinton — her policies, her ties to special interests and her character — during his campaign, making it more difficult to support her now. The couple has been impressed with Clinton, who has more effectively courted them since the 2004 vice presidential nominee dropped out, people who talk to the Edwardses say....

While Obama has made some silly and stupid remarks about Edwards since he left the race (see my previous post), Obama has begun to praise Edwards in public. This week he told Wisconsin voters that Edwards will "be a major voice in the Democratic party for years to come, and I want him involved and partnering with me in moving this country forward."

None of the other former Democratic presidential candidates — Chris Dodd, Joe Biden, Bill Richardson or Dennis Kucinich — have endorsed Obama or Clinton, reflecting the party's split over who would be the best president.

Edwards met with Hillary Clinton last week.

ABC has a really interesting piece on Edwards' thinking on an endorsement (absolutely worth reading).