Edwards tells crowd he has fight

With his trademark blue jeans, wide smile and Madeleine Stowe in tow, John Edwards came to Water Street on Thursday morning.

Speaking to about 300 people, many of them union members, during a town hall meeting at the Henderson Convention Center, Edwards repeatedly emphasized the personal qualities he said set him apart from those other two candidates.

While Hillary Clinton believes the country needs a president "who knows how to shuffle the papers around," and Barack Obama thinks the country needs someone "who knows how to give a great speech," Edwards said he's the candidate most likely to actually get things done.

"What we need in the next president of the United States is somebody with some guts and fight and determination," he said to cheers.

If elected, Edwards said he would apply that toughness toward securing "truly universal health care," "growing the middle class," and "bringing this war in Iraq to an end."

Many of those in attendance referenced Edwards' fighting spirit while talking about why they support him.

"I think he'll fight more than Clinton and be more effective than Obama," said 20-year-old UNLV student Jim Hoffman. "He's more progressive on health care; his plan would cover everybody. I made my decision on policy issues."

Jenny Chapman, a 48-year-old hydrogeologist with Desert Research Institute, said she has been impressed with Edwards since he was John Kerry's running mate in 2004.

"My heart's been with him since," she said. "He was a ray of hope. We need to have leadership, not just politics, and I think Edwards is a leader."

Edwards spent a good chunk of his 20-minute speech talking about his plan for "cradle-to-grave" health coverage for Americans, which he said would be paid for "by getting rid of Bush's tax cuts for people who make over $200,000."

"I was the first one ... to come out with a universal health care plan," he said. "It mandates coverage for every man, woman and child, required by law."

He garnered cheers and applause when he gave a "shout out" to labor unions.

"I think if we want to grow the middle class, we must strengthen and grow the organized labor movement in America."

Both the United Steelworkers of America and the United Brotherhood of Carpenters have endorsed him nationally.

But it wasn't enough for 53-year-old Ed Box, a member of Laborers Local 872, to commit.

"Right now I'm undecided, but I'm leaning towards Edwards," the Southern Nevadan said, adding he thinks Edwards would be the most dedicated to environmental issues.

Edwards took several questions from the audience after his speech and reacted strongly when one woman commented about the media "acting like you're no longer in the race."

"It really is a remarkable thing to see when the media does try to tell voters ... what they're supposed to do and that you only have two choices," he said. "What we've learned ... is people respond powerfully to the energy and the passion and the heartfelt ideas I'm talking about. We just have to be heard. I think it's time to call these people (the media) on it."

Contact reporter Lynnette Curtis at lcurtis @reviewjournal.com or (702) 383-0285.