AND THE CAMPAIGN GOES ON...

Elizabeth Edwards, wife of Presidential candidate John Edwards, has experienced a recurrence of the cancer she was first diagnosed with toward the close of the 2004 campaign. According to the New York Times, Mrs. Edwards' cancer is said to be incurable at this point, but manageable with treatment. This is sad news for the family, friends and supporters of the Edwards campaign on personal and political levels, but uncomfortable questions will no doubt be asked and theorized about in the coming days.

Candidate Edwards and his wife participated in a news conference earlier today that witnessed his assurance of a campaign that would not be derailed by the health of his wife. But with her illness returning and being called "incurable" how much focus can Candidate Edwards truly devote to a continued bid for the White House? Mrs. Edwards has been called a confidant of her husband. How much attention can she give to this effort that already sees her husband trailing Senator's Obama and Clinton in numerous opinion polls? The campaign to run the largest democracy in the world is a grind-house filled with pits, betrayals, reversals and competitive debating sessions that can turn mean spirited and outright cruel without warning.

There is much to like about Candidate Edwards, particularly his early strategies for universal health care, environmental corrections, and withdrawal from Iraq. But I don't know how believable it is to think his candidacy will not suffer due to an understandable need to be more concerned with Mrs. Edwards health. Mr. Edwards has already said that he will not suspend campaign activities due to Mrs. Edwards recurring cancer, but that statement comes after the candidate canceled a campaign appearance in Iowa to be at his wife's side.

Of course Mr. Edwards would put his wife first in this instance. Unfortunately, illness does not take into account ambitions or professional responsibilities. The Iowa cancellation might not be the last time Candidate Edwards needs to be by his wife's side and if he is not on the campaign trail battling Obama and Clinton, his candidacy will not succeed. They are too savvy, too charismatic and too popular to be threatened by a part time candidate. And Mrs. Edwards might be too ill to suffer a part time husband.

So the biggest question that needs to be asked and answered is this: should Mr. Edwards spend time on a campaign that might gain him the influence of the white house, but put more pressure on him and ultimately the health of his wife? We pray that Mr. and Mrs. Edwards choose the best answer for all involved.