In my little neck of the woods, I have to tell you, the John Edwards endorsement of Barack Obama is a bigger deal than you might think. And I agree with Goldni that I think the timing of this was very much balanced for positive press after West Virginia.

Prior to Super Tuesday, I really had to give a lot of thought between Edwards and Obama. I read the issues (including Hillary Clinton’s) and when Edwards dropped out January 30th, my decision was pretty much made for me. I’ve also said that if Clinton won the nomination, I would throw her my vote. It isn’t much but it’s mine.

The people that I know really like Edwards and here in northwest Tennessee, he has always been very well-received. The populist platform, regardless of the $400 haircut that keeps being brought up, resonated with a lot of folks here which does have a blue-collar base.

Now, will his endorsement make a difference? Yes, but news cycles these days don’t last very long. The video for Chocolate Rain has had a longer life-span than political news stories these days.

He has 19 delegates. He does seem to balance the two remaining candidates as well. When Bill Richards came out earlier for Obama, he honestly took a beating from the Clinton camp. With Edwards waiting, he won’t go through what Richards went through. Someone asked me yesterday did I think Obama would name Edwards as his running mate.

I told them no but then again, I’ve been wrong before. I just don’t see it. Of course, I also thought Mike McWherter would run.

With all of that said, Obama got the cookie he’s been waiting for with Edwards’ endorsement.

How long will the buzz last in the blogosphere and in mainstream media?

Hard to tell.