<div class="mini gray">Illustration by: Matt Mahurin</div>

<p><img width="165" height="165" class="left" alt="Politics.jpg" src="/files/washingtonindependent/testing-icon-with/Politics.jpg" /></p>

<p>The decision by John Edwards to drop out of the presidential race has sent us politics nerds scrambling to understand what happens to his delegates. Here’s one helpful <a title="explainer" id="x97f" href="http://demconwatch.blogspot.com/2008/01/edwards-out.html">explainer</a>.</p>

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But there will be an even more immediate, and dramatic, effect: Thursday’s Democratic presidential debate — from Los Angeles, and broadcast on CNN — will have just two candidates center-stage. How long will they be able to play nice?</p>