As I said the other day, I understand and respect the decision of John and Elizabeth Edwards to continue John's presidential campaign.

Or at least I did until last night.

Elizabeth Edwards, the wife of the presidential candidate John Edwards, elaborated on her cancer diagnosis in an interview broadcast last night, saying that the disease had spread to one of her hips.

Mrs. Edwards and her husband said they would continue campaigning.

The interview, on “60 Minutes” on CBS, appeared three days after Mr. Edwards announced that his wife’s cancer, first diagnosed late in his 2004 campaign for the White House, had come back in an incurable form that had spread to her ribs.

When asked if the cancer had spread to any other part of her body, Mrs. Edwards said, “There are a couple of hot spots, on the bone scan, in my right hip, for example.” She did not mention any other areas having been affected.

It sounds to me like the cancer may have spread much more aggressively than I had originally believed, which leads me to reassess my earlier position on his continuing the campaign.

Senator Edwards, with all due respect, I think you are wrong to continue with your campaign. Your wife is ill, sir, and her condition will likely be terminal in the next five years. This campaign, and the obligations of the presidency, will increasingly take you away from her side as Elizabeth's condition deteriorates. Where is it more important that you be during the time she has left -- on the campaign trail and in the Oval Office, or with her? When she is gone, which are you most likely to have regrets about -- time with Elizabeth, or time pursuing the presidency? Fully believing that the love you two display in public is real, I believe we all know the answer.

And besides, Senator, you are still a young man. In four years, or eight years, you will still be of an age to seek the Presidency -- especially if you have served in the Cabinet of a Democratic President.

The full 60 Minutes transcript can be found here.

Posted by: Greg at 10:18 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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