John and Elizabeth Edwards were on 60 Minutes last night. It was the second time they made a joiunt appearance this week. The first time, of course, was when they announced that Elizabeth's cancer had returned. As I watched them handle questions about that a few days ago I thought: His numbers are going to go up because of this.

Edwards last night said that he does not want " sympathy votes. " There is a book out. It's very popular, and it's about how to convince people to do what you want them to do. It's called Don't Think of an Elephant.

The concept is: Tell the people whom you want to think of an elephant not to think of an elephant. They won't be able to get an elephant out of their minds.

Edwards asked for no sympathy votes. But the elephant was sitting right there in the room. Right there next to him.

I'm hoping I'm reading too much into this. But this is a man who wants to be president. And we all know about that level of ambition. Men would run over their grandmothers with an armored personnel carrier to win that Prize. And some men would do the same to their wives.

I hope Edwards goes back to campaigning alone. With Elizabeth where she was, in the background. We'll see. Time will tell, as it always does.