IN THE HEADLINES

Democrat John Edwards ends bid for the White House ... Giuliani, a contradiction within GOP, to bow out of presidential race ... Romney jokes about spending all his money in 2008 race ... Nader launches 2008 exploratory presidential bid with appeal to fight big corporations ... Clinton calls for new limits on credit card interest rates ... Huckabee says Giuliani's exit has no effect on his standing

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Edwards exits presidential race

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Democrat John Edwards bowed out of the race for the White House on Wednesday, saying it was time to step aside "so that history can blaze its path" in a campaign now left to Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama.

"With our convictions and a little backbone we will take back the White House in November," said Edwards, ending his second campaign in a hurricane-ravaged section of New Orleans where he began it more than a year ago.

Edwards said Clinton and Obama had both pledged that "they will make ending poverty central to their campaign for the presidency."

"This is the cause of my life and I now have their commitment to engage in this cause," he said before a small group of supporters. He was joined by his wife Elizabeth and his three children, Cate, Emma Claire and Jack.

It was the second time Edwards sought the Democratic presidential nomination. Four years ago he was the vice presidential running mate on a ticket headed by John Kerry.

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Giuliani set to exit presidential race

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Rudy Giuliani was always a long-shot for the Republican presidential nomination, a brash New Yorker who backed gun control, abortion and gay rights in a party dominated by Southern conservatives.

The only surprise was that he lasted as long as he did as the national front-runner.

The former New York mayor planned to exit the GOP race Wednesday and endorse rival and friend John McCain. Giuliani's unconventional strategy of largely bypassing the early voting states and focusing on more populous, delegate-rich states produced just one delegate, a bunch of sixth-place finishes and made him the odd man out.

His best showing was Florida, where he had staked his candidacy. He finished a distant third.

It was a remarkable defeat for the ex-mayor who entered the race more than a year ago with an aura of invincibility, leading national polls and earning a reputation for toughness after his stewardship of New York as terrorists struck on Sept. 11, 2001.

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Romney kids about going broke after race

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Republican Mitt Romney says he might have empty pockets after spending millions of his own money to fund his presidential bid.

He joked about the situation while addressing his supporters Tuesday night.

"All you guys are family," he told the crowd. "Don't expect to be part of the inheritance; I'm not sure there's going to be much left after this."

The former venture capitalist has already contributed an estimated $35 million to his campaign, and he has stated publicly that he and his wife have agreed on a personal spending cap — although they refuse to divulge the figure.

The question confronting the couple is whether additional spending can push Romney over the top, or end up being wasteful. It is no small decision for a flinty candidate who prefers turkey subs for lunch and Comfort Inns for overnight accommodations.

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Nader eyes 2008 presidential bid

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ralph Nader is considering seeking the presidency — again.

The consumer activist and political gadfly kicked off an exploratory presidential campaign Wednesday with the launch of a new Web site that promises he'll fight "corporate greed, corporate power, corporate control" and asks people to donate $300 each.

Nader sought the White House in each of the last three presidential elections: He ran on the Green Party ticket in 1996 and 2000, and as an independent in 2004.

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Clinton calls for credit card changes

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Hillary Rodham Clinton proposed new limits on credit card interest rates and protections for consumers who use them.

"We need more disclosure, more transparency," Clinton said. "We've got to go after this predatory lending."

Clinton spelled out details of her proposal in a speech before about 3,000 people at a high school here, taking time from her stump speech to talk about the time she spent in Arkansas as first lady while her husband served as governor.

The New York senator called for 30-percent cap on credit card interest rates, but then moving quickly to begin lowering that cap as part of a package of new regulations on credit card issuers.

She also said she wanted to put in place new regulations to clarify the often confusing fine print that's featured in credit card applications.

Earlier Wednesday, Clinton was endorsed by Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.

"Hillary and I both came to Washington together in 1993, and since that time she hasn't stopped working on the priorities that matter most to America's families," Murray said.

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Huckabee raps Romney's record

ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. (AP) — Republican Mike Huckabee said rival Rudy Giuliani's plan to exit the race doesn't affect his standing in the field — it will take two more candidates to make an impact.

"What would be a bigger factor is if (Mitt) Romney and (John) McCain dropped out today. One can dream. I believe in miracles," the former Arkansas governor told reporters before a fundraiser here.

Huckabee, who came in fourth in Florida's primary, said he's not dropping his bid for the White House soon. He criticized Romney's record, saying the two would not split the conservative vote.

"If the true conservatives are looking for a true conservative, they'll pick me. Romney's record is not a conservative record, his rhetoric is not conservative, even with what he's said and done," he said.

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THE DEMOCRATS

Hillary Rodham Clinton stops in Arkansas and Georgia. Barack Obama campaigns in Denver and Phoenix. John Edwards holds a news conference in New Orleans to announce he is leaving the race.

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THE REPUBLICANS

The candidates meet for a debate in California.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY:

"I think what will happen across the country is that conservatives will give a good thought to whether or not they want to hand the party's nomination over to Senator McCain. He has not been their champion over the last several years." — Republican Mitt Romney, in an interview Wednesday on ABC's "Good Morning America."

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STAT OF THE DAY:

George H.W. Bush was the last Republican to win California in a presidential election. In 1988, he garnered 5,054,917 votes while Michael Dukakis grabbed 4,702,233 votes.

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Compiled by Ann Sanner


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Wed Jan 30, 11:56 AM ET