http://ozarkspub.vo.llnwd.net/o37/KSMU/audio/mp3/democratic_732.mp3
North Carolina Senator John Edwards brought his campaign for the democratic presidential nomination to Springfield tonight, hoping to win in the state with the most delegates at stake next Tuesday. KSMU's Missy Shelton reports.
AS MANY AS ONE THOUSAND PEOPLE CRAMMED INTO A CLASSROOM BUILDING AT SOUTHWEST MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY TO HEAR NORTH CAROLINA SENATOR JOHN EDWARDS TALK ABOUT WHY HE SHOULD GET THEIR VOTE IN THE STATE'S PRIMARY NEXT TUESDAY.
HERE ARE THE THOUGHTS OF JUST A FEW OF THOSE WHO CAME OUT FOR THE EDWARDS RALLY...FIRST, MATT RYAN, A BLUE COLLAR WORKER IN SPRINGFIELD .
He says he's undecided so he came to see Edwards in person. Cathy Collins says she's one of the angry democrats who wants to see a change in the White House.
HOPING TO APPEAL TO VOTERS LIKE CATHY COLLINS, EDWARDS TOLD THE CROWD HE WAS THE CANDIDATE WHO COULD WIN IN NOVEMBER.
Edwards says, " I am so ready for this fight. I've been getting ready for it my whole life. You must give me a shot at George Bush. You give me a shot at George Bush, I will give you the White House. "
WITH ST LOUIS CONGRESSMAN DICK GEPHARDT OUT OF THE RACE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION, CANDIDATES ARE EYEING MISSOURI AND ITS 74 DELEGATES, THE MOST OF ANY STATE WITH A PRIMARY NEXT TUESDAY.
MASSACHUETTES SENATOR JOHN KERRY AND THE REVEREND AL SHARPTON HAVE ALSO BEEN STUMPING IN MISSOURI.
KERRY AND SHARPTON MADE THEIR FIRST MISSOURI STOPS IN ST LOUIS...IN A ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEW WITH K-S-M-U, JOHN EDWARDS EXPLAINED WHY HE DECIDED TO MAKE SPRINGFIELD HIS FIRST STOP IN THE SHOWME STATE.
DURING THE RALLY, EDWARDS TALKED A LOT ABOUT POVERTY IN AMERICA.
HE SAID ADDRESSING ISSUES RELATED TO POVERTY IS A PRIORITY OF HIS.
EDWARDS HAS THE ENDORSEMENT OF MISSOURI LIEUTENANT JOE MAXWELL, JOHN KERRY HAS THE SUPPORT OF FORMER U-S SENATOR JEAN CARNAHAN AND AL SHARPTON HAS THE BACKING OF SEVERAL PROMINENT AFRICAN-AMERICAN POLITICAL LEADERS IN THE ST LOUIS AREA.
I'M MISSY SHELTON FOR K-S-M-U NEWS.