Speech expected shortly in New Orleans, where he began his campaign over a year ago.

The big question in this now two-person race for the Democratic nomination is who will benefit.

The Media has no idea what it means so they are all shooting off in every prognostic direction possible. You’d do better figuring it all out by comparing astrology charts.

This is quite a surprise, though. No one expected Edwards to withdraw before Super Tuesday.

The AP reports:

Democrat John Edwards is exiting the presidential race Wednesday, ending a scrappy underdog bid in which he steered his rivals toward progressive ideals while grappling with family hardship that roused voters’ sympathies but never diverted his campaign, The Associated Press has learned…The former North Carolina senator will not immediately endorse either candidate in what is now a two-person race for the Democratic nomination, said one adviser, who spoke on a condition of anonymity in advance of the announcement.

What is, of course, most fascinating is that all the talking heads are presuming that Edwards will ultimately endorse Barack Obama. Without evidence of any kind they read this endorsement into every word Edwards had to say in his withdrawal speech.

Read the latest in the Boston Globe here

UPDATE: Full text of Sen. John Edward’s withdrawal speech can be found here

To see where a candidate stands on the issues, visit Issue 2008