John Edwards cancelled a campaign event rather suddenly to return home and be with his wife Elizabeth after her doctor's appointment.

John Edwards disclosed that his wife, Elizabeth, had breast cancer the day after he lost the vice presidency in the 2004 election. Now his political future may hinge on her health.

The couple planned a news conference in Chapel Hill, N.C., to discuss their plans Thursday, a day after visiting doctors who are monitoring Mrs. Edwards' recovery from the cancer.

Campaign officials refused to answer any questions about what the couple learned at the doctor's appointment or how it might affect Edwards' second presidential bid. Edwards had cut short a trip to Iowa to be with his wife but still attended a barbecue fundraiser Wednesday evening in Chapel Hill, their hometown.

The campaign had said Mrs. Edwards, 57, had a follow-up appointment Wednesday to a routine test she had Monday. The campaign explained that she had similar follow-ups in the past but they always resulted in a clean bill of health.

The campaign refused to describe what happened this time.

A tough decision for Edwards. My guess is that there will be a lot more medical consultation before a decision is made, but unless the test in question was an anomaly, Edwards will have to pull out of the race.

The implications for the Democrat primary are earthshaking, which makes me wonder if Hillary Clinton had something to do with it--I'm kidding--really.

Edwards is by most estimations, a serious contender for the nomination. He finances are healthy, he's well-known and he's not Hillary Clinton. His withdrawal doesn't so much help the front-runners as give one of the lesser-known candidates a leg-up as they cannibalize his staff and contributors.