Obama blew it on Edwards endorsement

So says New York’s John Heilemann, and explains why Barack Obama hasn’t gotten a John Edwards endorsement.

Two months have passed since Edwards dropped out and still no endorsement. Why? According to a Democratic strategist unaligned with any campaign but with knowledge of the situation gleaned from all three camps, the answer is simple: Obama blew it.

Speaking to Edwards on the day he exited the race, Obama came across as glib and aloof. His response to Edwards’s imprecations that he make poverty a central part of his agenda was shallow, perfunctory, pat.

Clinton, by contrast, engaged Edwards in a lengthy policy discussion. Her affect was solicitous and respectful. When Clinton met Edwards face-to-face in North Carolina ten days later, her approach continued to impress; she even made headway with Elizabeth.

Whereas in his Edwards sit-down, Obama dug himself in deeper, getting into a fight with Elizabeth about health care, insisting that his plan is universal (a position she considers a crock), high-handedly criticizing Clinton’s plan (and by extension Edwards’s) for its insurance mandate.

Heilemann (and Joe Klein, who linked him in Time) say this shows Obama may be still a work in progress as a politician.

Heilemann also says the continued “vetting” Obama is getting by the race still continuing is doing him more harm than good. Certainly, it’s arguable that, if he learns from what he did wrong with Edwards, that will do him good.

If he doesn’t …