Edwards made a big mistake

Just hours before the third quarter deadline, Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards decided to accept public funds to help finance his campaign.  The problem, as an Obama spokesman explains, is that if Edwards wins the nomination, he would be unable to spend any general election money until after the Democratic Convention in August:

Norris, who ran John Kerry's successful 2004 caucus campaign, saidEdwards' decision could "handcuff" his campaign and the party if hebecomes the nominee. The effective end of the primary season probablywill be in February, Norris said, but the national convention isn'tuntil August. In the months between, Norris said, Edwards would not beable to spend any money beyond the primary-season caps. Meanwhile, theRepublican nominee could continue to raise money and spend it hammeringaway at the Democrats, he said.

Kos echoed the concern that Edwards could not spend any money until the Convention:

So he's won, but he's spent his primary money, and he won't get hisfirst general election check until after the Democratic convention.August 25.

So Edwards won't have any money in March, April, May, June, July, and most of August. That's six months of darkness.

What is he thinking?  Now Obama and Clinton will deem Mr. Edwards unelectable because of his lack of general election funds.