Why Edwards Is Suspending His Candidacy

John Edwards is suspending his candidacy, as opposed to officially dropping out, because it will allow him to hold onto the 26 pledged delegates he has accumulated—plus any other he might pick up with his name still on the ballot across the country.

This is probably a meaningless distinction, but in the event that the Hillary-Obama race ends up dead even (as in, they are separated by just a few delegates) after the primaries and caucuses are finished, Edwards could still have some leverage with his small bloc of delegates, particularly if his suspended candidacy somehow can gather another few dozen delegates in the remaining primaries.

Still, the biggest x-factor in an even Hillary-Obama race is the 796 super delegates, who aren't pledged to anyone and who can wait until the first ballot at the convention to make up their minds.