*EPF204 07/06/2004
Kerry Invites John Edwards to be Vice Presidential Candidate
(North Carolina senator understands, defends American values, Kerry says) (680)

By Darlisa Crawford
Washington File Staff Writer

On July 6, presumed Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry invited North Carolina Senator John Edwards to be his running mate in the 2004 presidential campaign.

Edwards, a rival of Kerry during the 2004 presidential primary season, accepted the offer during a telephone conversation on the morning of July 6. Kerry announced his decision first in an e-mail to his supporters and then at a Pittsburgh rally.

"[My wife] Teresa and I could not be more excited that John and Elizabeth Edwards will be our partners in our journey to make America stronger at home and respected in the world," Kerry said in the email.

"John understands and defends the values of America. He has shown courage and conviction as a champion for middle-class Americans and those struggling to reach middle class. He has shown guts and determination and political skill in his own race for the presidency of the United States," Kerry added.

During the primaries, the 51-year-old Edwards took a populist stance with traces of protectionism, emphasizing proposals to assist working-class America. A former trial lawyer and a self-made millionaire from a textile town, Edwards won his birth state of South Carolina in the recent Democratic presidential primary. Edwards' attacks on the "two Americas" -- one for the rich and one for those "struggling to get by" -- are expected to be an important theme in the Kerry-Edwards campaign for the White House. Referencing African American poet Langston Hughes, Kerry said, "Let America be America again. We are all in the same boat. We are going to fight to build one America for all Americans."

According to the Associated Press (AP), the search for Kerry's running mate was based on five criteria: demonstrated leadership with good judgment on national security and commitments to economic prosperity and social justice; dedication to Kerry's issues and his vision for the United States; ability to inspire confidence in every American voter; alignment with Kerry "on every level;" and readiness "at any moment to assume the awesome responsibility of president."

After considering 25 potential candidates, Kerry narrowed his list down to three possibilities -- Iowa Governor Tom Vislack, former Democratic presidential candidate Richard Gephardt of Missouri and Edwards, according to AP.

Since being sworn in to the Senate on January 6, 1999, Edwards has supported public education, medical-patient protection, abortion rights, campaign-finance reform and modernization of the U.S. banking system. He has opposed corporate corruption and terrorism. Edwards also opposes same-sex marriage but supports domestic-partner benefits for same-sex couples. The North Carolina senator advocates a plan for improved health care coverage that would cost an estimated $53 billion per year, an expense he says could be covered by repealing Bush's income tax breaks for the richest U.S. citizens.

Edwards serves on four Senate committees: Judiciary; Small Business; Intelligence; Education, Labor and Pensions; and Health.

Although Kerry and Edwards have disagreed on tax cuts and the North American Free Trade Agreement (Kerry supported both), Edwards and Kerry both supported the decision to go to war in Iraq.

In announcing his endorsement of Edwards, Kerry stressed that health care is a right, not a privilege, for all Americans.

"We'll be fighting to give the middle class a voice by providing good paying jobs and affordable health care. We'll be fighting to make America energy independent. We'll be fighting to build a strong military and lead strong alliances, so young Americans are never put in harm's way because we insisted on going it alone," Kerry added.

With the 2004 presidential election four months away, Kerry emphasized restoring old alliances and building new ones with his new running mate: "In the next 120 days and in the administration that follows, John Edwards and I will be fighting for the America we love."

Edwards must still be nominated by the Democratic National Convention before he officially becomes that party's nominee for vice president.

(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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