Contrary to my expectations, John Edwards did not drop out of the presidential race yesterday, despite the return of Elizabeth Edwards' cancer in a much more serious form.

John Edwards, the Democratic candidate for president, said today that his wife Elizabeth Edwards was once again suffering from breast cancer, this time in an incurable form.

But in a joint news conference, he and Mrs. Edwards expressed confidence that the disease could be managed with treatment, and that there would be no interruption in his campaign for the Democratic nomination.

Mrs. Edwards said she was in little pain, and that she was maintaining a positive attitude and a full schedule of appearances on behalf of her husband’s candidacy.

“I expect to do next week all the things I did last week,” she said at the midday news conference, conducted in a courtyard at the inn on the campus of the University of North Carolina where the Edwardses held their wedding reception 30 years ago this summer.

Frankly, I was rather angry at John Edwards yesterday -- I believed he was fundamentally wrong in his decision to continue his campaign. Indeed, I had a blog post attacking John Edwards all composed in my head for his over-weaning ambition leading him to place his interests above the needs of his wife, lambasting him for failing to be where I believed he belonged -- at the side of Elizabeth Edwards as she faces a condition that is likely to take her life before the end of the next presidential term.

And then I realized where I was -- in my car, driving to a Republican fundraiser at the insistence of my wife, who found it necessary to stay home because of her own health issues. And I realized that, no doubt, there had been, in the privacy of the Edwards home, a conversation like the one I had with Paula on Wednesday when it became clear that she could not attend the function with me. So upon reflection, I don't doubt that John Edwards was ready to quit and argued in favor of quitting -- and that it was only the insistence of Elizabeth Edwards that has led him to continue this race.

Regardless, the Edwards family remains in my prayers -- even as I hope John Edwards' presidential fortunes (and those of all the Democrats) go down in flames.

UPDATE: Public reaction, like mine, is mixed on the decision to continue the campaign.