WI: Edwards wins the Democratic nomination in 2008

Let's say Barack Obama decided against running in the 2008 primaries. John Edwards narrowly grasped the nomination after a neck-to-neck fight with Hillary Clinton, and as an October Surprise - his scandal was revealed in October. What would happen next? That was after the outbreak of the Financial Tsunami. Would Edwards still beat McCain if he stays in the race?

Also, is it possible or legal for Democrats to change their nominee at such a final stage, if Edwards decided to give up his candidacy?
 
Even if they change their nominee, I think it'll be a Republican win. October would be too late for any major recovery for the Democrats.
 
Let's say Barack Obama decided against running in the 2008 primaries. John Edwards narrowly grasped the nomination after a neck-to-neck fight with Hillary Clinton, and as an October Surprise - his scandal was revealed in October. What would happen next? That was after the outbreak of the Financial Tsunami. Would Edwards still beat McCain if he stays in the race?

Also, is it possible or legal for Democrats to change their nominee at such a final stage, if Edwards decided to give up his candidacy?

The National Enquirer stories ran 10-10-2007 & 12-17-2007. Edwards admitted to the affair (though continued to deny that he was the father of Rielle Hunter's baby) on 8-7-2008. The 2008 Democratic Convention was held August 25-28. The entire affair needs to be butterflied away in order for Edwards (even w/Obama out of the race) to have a decent shot at the nomination, as the "lid" will likely come off the scandal sooner w/him in the race then it did OTL w/him having dropped out.
 
This is highly unlikely, to the point of being in the near-ASB category. A number of staffers in the Edwards campaign pledged among themselves to sabotage his candidacy through leaks to the press if it appeared he might win the nomination because they learned of the potential scandal and felt his nomination might fatally cripple the Democrats' chances in 2008.
 
I don't think an affair is an impeacable offense.

The way he went about it though, like covering it up with election funds, is a federal offense. He's being prosecuted for it now as we speak, I see no reason that he's escape that as President, certainly not when it kills his popularity.
 
The National Enquirer stories ran 10-10-2007 & 12-17-2007. Edwards admitted to the affair (though continued to deny that he was the father of Rielle Hunter's baby) on 8-7-2008. The 2008 Democratic Convention was held August 25-28. The entire affair needs to be butterflied away in order for Edwards (even w/Obama out of the race) to have a decent shot at the nomination, as the "lid" will likely come off the scandal sooner w/him in the race then it did OTL w/him having dropped out.

I agree here-journalists would be more eager to look in to the scandles surrounding John Edwards if he were a front-runner. Let's say though that Hillery loses out to Edwards in the primaries (a bit of a stretch, but possible I suppose).

Edwards meanwhile, decides to concentrate on the 2008 nomination than... anything else, for the time being. He wrapps up the nomination, though it's a close run thing against Hillery. He deals with the stress of the situation by "taking a break" with a member of campaign staff (I don't know too much about Edwards's OTL campaign, so I'm not sure who the most likely candidate would be for this).

Come to think about it, this is probably one of the only ways to bring about a Mccaine presidency in 2008 without significant change beforehand.
 
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