Edwards.27 address 2004 Democratic National Convention

not yet formally nominated vice presidency, john edwards took stage @ convention give first major national speech of political career. delegates raised red-and-white vertical edwards banners , chanted name. theme of edwards s address divide between 2 americas, populist message throughout primary campaign , 1 embraced kerry. tied division own roots in north carolina, , introduced family audience. edwards addressed parents podium: taught me values carry in heart: faith, family, responsibility, opportunity everyone. taught me there s dignity , honor in hard day s work. taught me out our neighbors, never down on anybody, , treat respect. edwards went on define 2 americas claimed exist, 1 rich , 1 poor, , repeated several times doesn t have way. called 1 health care system, equal in quality coverage received senators , other elected officials, , promised establish patients bill of rights. edwards proposed 1 public school system all, arguing none of believe quality of child s education should controlled live or affluence of community. appealed end of 2 economies, 1 people set life, know kids , grandkids going fine, , 1 americans, people live paycheck paycheck. edwards stated how democrats expected pay agenda: re going roll – re going roll tax cuts wealthiest americans. , re going close corporate loopholes. re going cut government contractors , wasteful spending. can move country forward without passing burden our children , our grandchildren.

many pundits noted while edwards s charismatic style in evidence, had rushed through speech, ending several minutes earlier planned. delegates in fleetcenter, however, enraptured, , edwards led them several times in statement-response chant: hope on way. this, , general upbeat tone of address, response attacks bush campaign claiming kerry , edwards pessimistic , cynical; altered , echoed next day in more detailed speech of john kerry: on way.