John Edwards

Last Wednesday was a rough day. I woke up to the harsh reality that the former North Carolina senator was going to drop out of the race for the nomination. Simply put, I'm sad but proud. The largest heartbreak I've ever had to cope with is a product of American politics.

I've been fighting disillusionment with politics since I joined the campaign, but Wednesday was a true challenge. The overall lack of press coverage for Edwards, the excessive coverage of stories that have nothing to do with running the country and the horserace tendencies of this campaign were hard to swallow.

I supported a candidate with a sincere belief in the cause of fighting for One America who I still believe belongs in the White House. Edwards' departure from the race is not a loss for him as much as it's a loss for the American people. Many political pundits have accurately noted his impact on the race and how he shaped the nature of the debate. The heart of the race for the Democratic nomination comes from Edwards' campaign. The core issues - poverty and economic justice, universal healthcare and environmental protection - are issues because of Edwards.

What is most painful but also makes me most proud are those moments that reminded us all, staff and volunteers, of why we joined the race. As Edwards addressed in his concession speech last Wednesday, campaigning on issues of social justice and aid for the poor is not popular, and the Democratic Party has shied away from what was once a core constituency. Issues that serve marginalized groups become tough on two counts: It's not the easiest route to a winning coalition comprising the requisite 50 plus 1 percent, and once elected, any president must face the significant institutional barriers that stand in the way of actually helping these individuals.

I was drawn to Edwards because of the bold populist cause of his campaign. Working on the campaign was an extraordinary experience. The intensity of campaigns, particularly a national campaign for the presidential nomination, is addictive and demands complete emotional investment. While working at Edwards' Chapel Hill, N.C., headquarters this summer, I spent almost every Saturday and Sunday in the office. When I returned to school, I never really left the campaign. The work is punishing, but the small victories, an outstanding debate performance or a big endorsement have the capacity to bring enormous highs.

The last year has provided the quintessential campaign experience that will forever shape my understanding of politics. I saw the filming of campaign commercials, felt the highs of stellar debate performances and the painful lows of poor media attention, rubbed shoulders with famous media figures and went to an Iowa precinct caucus. A senior campaign staffer told the summer interns that 99 percent of what we would take away from the campaign we would learn through absorption. He was absolutely correct. Through observing the inner workings of a national campaign I have gleaned the intricacies and some of the nuance of how political campaigns work in the field and how decisions are made.

I don't know who will win the keys to the Oval Office in November. What I do know is that the voice Edwards gave to the voiceless in his campaign and the causes that John Edwards for President 2008 furthered made each day spent on the campaign worthwhile. John Edwards for President 2008 may have ended, but "it" is certainly not over. What this campaign was and continues to be about - the cause of fighting for One America - is far from over.