I think part of the reason that Edwards felt he had to bow out is that he is in fact a white male, and in many ways he would have been standing in the way of history.

That's a really interesting analysis, and I bet that's at least part of it.

I also agree that it's nice to see the politicians who aren't strictly on their party's line getting more attention. (Although I would argue that Romney shifted his views to match the party line more closely.) A reflection that we're getting sick of the two-party system? Maybe. I can only hope.