Edwards out, but the party goes on

Cincinnati Vice Mayor David Crowley was planning a little debate-watching for Thursday night at Crowley's Highland House, the family bar in Mt. Adams, inviting all supporters of John Edwards to come up the hill and cheer on their underdog candidate.


But, after another distant third place showing in Tuesday's Florida beauty contest, the Associated Press was reporting that Edwards was on the verge of withdrawing.


Crowley and the other local Edwards supporters are disappointed, but it takes a whole lot to stop a party at the old bar on Pavillion Street. Crowley said he and other Edwards supporters will be there at 8 p.m. Thursday for the CNN debate from California.


"We'll be there watching the debate at the bar; and we'll see who shows up,'' said the vice mayor. "Maybe we'll have a little focus group on what went wrong."


Crowley said that while he was disappointed by the news Wednesday morning, he was not surprised.

"I sort of thought he would stay on just to become a player in this somewhere down the road, but it just wasn't working out,'' said Crowley.


Crowley - the highest-ranking elected official in southwest Ohio to come out for Edwards - said he's not sure yet who he will support for the Democratic nomination.


"I've been thinking about that for awhle, knowing that it was possible Edwards wouldn't stay in,'' Crowley said. "I guess I am leaning towards Obama, but I've started to have more regard for Hillary lately than I used to.


"But I am pissed off at her husband."