For Edwards, It All Comes Down to South Carolina [View All]

[isbister]

For John Edwards, Tuesday is the day of reckoning.

If the native son of South Carolina loses the presidential primary here to John F. Kerry -- a possibility that his entourage nervously acknowledges is real -- the decision will be simple. Edwards will congratulate Kerry, quickly endorse the Massachusetts senator as the Democratic nominee and head home.

He will feel no shame, he said in an interview, in losing to a man he regards as an upright politician, worthy of the presidency.

But if he beats Kerry in South Carolina, Edwards said he looks forward to challenging him for the top spot -- no matter what the odds against his success.

A victory here would send the North Carolina senator flying late Tuesday night to Memphis to begin a quest for victories on Feb. 10 in the Tennessee and Virginia primaries -- a prelude to a battle he says he can wage right through the remainder of the race....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6892-2004Feb2.html