John Edwards made an interesting choice of words in last night’s concession speech in South Carolina:

I want to join Sen. Clinton and President Clinton in congratulating Sen. Obama.

Now the three of us move on to February 5th where millions of Americans will cast their vote and help shape the future of this party and help shape the future of America.

He didn’t just sneak in President Clinton, these were practically his opening words (right after “Thank you all very much.”) Or, actually, not his words at all. Edwards was performing to Obama’s script.

On January 16, at the Henderson Convention Center in Nevada, Obama went:

I respect that Sen. Clinton and President Clinton tried to get health care fixed in 1993.

On January 21, on Good Morning America, it was:

We’ve got a formidable opponent – actually two formidable opponents at this point, between Sen. Clinton and President Clinton.

On January 22, during a media conference call before a speech in Greenville, South Carolina:

I think its very clear that Sen. Clinton and President Clinton have been spending the last month attacking me in ways that are not accurate.

On January 23, in an interview:

We’ve taken a lot of incoming over the last month from both Sen. Clinton and President Clinton and their camp. I know that’s certainly typical of Washington politics, and I think part of their strategy has been to drag us into the muck.

Repeat anything enough times, and it certainly gets noticed:

Obama often mentions “Sen. Clinton and President Clinton” in the same breath and in a pejorative way suggesting they are running as a tandem team against him.

Pretty widely, actually. And now Edwards wants to stand up and be noticed too. As being with Obama on this one. Hmmmm!