What’s next for John Edwards?

The presidential race is shaking out and former N.C. Sen. John Edwards is one of the casualties. That said, Edwards may not be completely out of the picture.

John Edwards may have given up on his quest for the presidency, but some local experts say the former North Carolina Senator may still be on the ballot in 2008.

Edwards said, “We will take back the White House in November and we will create hope and opportunity in this country.”

In his concession speech Wednesday Edwards expressed support for the Democratic Party, the party that didn’t exactly support him.

Wilmington Democrat Brice Horton said, “I’m kind of glad to see him go. I didn’t have a whole lot of faith in the guy to begin with.”

Wilmington Democrat Grant Pike said, “I really didn’t care for him as a candidate anyway.”

The South Carolina native finished third in his home state’s primary last Saturday, arguably ending his campaign. But UNCW political science professor Roger Lowery says Edwards may not be off the ballot just yet.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s considered for the vice presidential running mate position,” Lowery said.

Lowery says Edwards may have lost in South Carolina, but he still demonstrated he’s a draw for white male voters — a demographic in which Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama may need some help.

Edwards may also have something else going for him.

Lowery said, “Election analysts argue that either the presidential or the vice presidential candidate of either party needs to come from the south. The south is a major voting bloc in the national general election.”

In response to Edwards’s departure from the race today, N.C. Governor Mike Easley said that he is proud of John Edwards, and that he wishes him the best in whatever the future holds.

Top Edwards advisor Joe Trippi said Clinton and Obama are “banging down the doors” for Edwards’s endorsement.