Elizabeth Edwards

[ukchris82]

Say John Edwards wins the nomination and is campaigning for the general when his wife's illness becomes serious.

Does he continue campaigning?

What happens if she dies?

How does it affect the election?

[Platypus]

I feel so cold...

If he decides to stop campaigning and she dies before the election, he wins. If he continues campaigning and she dies, it has a net neutral effect. Is he lives and he stops campaigning, he loses; if he continues he probably loses unless he has a really strong speech saying why he is still running and politicises to the max her last days.

I'm guessing he continues.

[exopolitician]

I think his wife will tell him to campaign even though its gotten serious, so he'll probably keep going. But I wouldnt know what to say if she dies....thats kinda something that shouldnt be touched on anyways.

[Bacon King]

I'm pretty sure Edwards would keep campaigning, regardless.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

If she passes, he wins the election hands down.

[J. J.]

If she passes, he wins the election hands down.

I don't think so.  There have been other local candidates who've had a spouse die, and they went down to defeat.

[Keystone Phil]

If she passes, he wins the election hands down.

I don't think so.  There have been other local candidates who've had a spouse die, and they went down to defeat.

Yeah but when it's a national race and it's widely known that the spouse has passed, there is a serious impact.

[CultureKing]

If she takes a turn for the worse I don't think they would tell the media, the Edwards' would probably try to coverup her deterioration. Anyone remember how she was diagnosed before November 2004 with her most recent bout of cancer but they decided not to tell the media until after the election?