Via Ben Smith, this Jeanne Cummings piece on John Edwards's decision to accept public matching funds makes a lot of sense. Basically, Cummings writes, Edwards had no other choice:
The simple fact is that Edwards was never going to keep pace with the Democratic front-runner, New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, or the upstart campaign of Illinois Sen. Barack Obama.
This decision will limit Edwards's ability to compete in the coming air war, but it's still way too early to declare any serious candidacy over. Edwards has an opening if Obama fizzles and the peace party rejects Clinton. Edwards's decision on 27 September came a day after the Service Employees International Union delayed their presidential endorsement. Coincidence?