2/23/2004

Edwards addresses trade, education

Lindsay Gebhart
Daily Kent Stater

CLEVELAND — Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards came to Cleveland State University Saturday for his first stop in the Buckeye State.

Edwards, the photogenic senator from North Carolina, came to Cleveland after a day of whirlwind campaigning in New York and Minnesota.

Edwards is coming off a strong second-place finish in Wisconsin that surprised many political pundits.

“I’m still re-energized. You and I can do this together,” Edwards said. “You give me a shot at this fight (against President Bush) and I’ll give back.”

Many in the crowd of about 700 waited more than two hours to hear Edwards speak about the focus of his campaign. He said there are two different Americas — one for the rich and another for everyone else.

“We’ve been in a place like this 70 years ago, with FDR,” Edwards said. “We shouldn’t have two public school systems. We need to end the damage done by No Child Left Behind.”

Edwards also promised to crack down on companies that prey on the poor and to create an America where no one will live in poverty if he or she works full time.

“Bush understands what free trade is. Let’s teach him what fair trade is,” Edwards said. “This economy belongs to you.”

Edwards said he grew up in a segregated South, and through his experience he learned the importance of racial equality.

“I feel such an enormous responsibility when it comes to racial equality,” Edwards said. “This is not an African-American issue, this is an American issue.”

Jeff Zelmer, a Cleveland resident, said he liked the Edwards campaign because it was positive.

“He is able to connect because he grew up in a lower, working class,” Zelmer said. “His family went through the same thing — that’s very important.”

The head of Howard Dean’s campaign in Ohio, Steven Chaffin, pledged his volunteers’ support to Edwards campaign. Dean dropped out of the race after a third-place finish in Wisconsin.

Troy Meyer, a sophomore at Cleveland State, said the Dean campaign’s decision to help the Edwards campaign is surprising and confusing.

“I don’t think they share many of the same messages,” Meyer said. “Dean’s campaign was largely negative. This was almost like a high school pep rally. I’m happy to see people are actually interested.”

Meyer said he was interested in hearing Edwards’ message, but is more concerned with getting Bush out of office than electing anyone in particular.

“I’m more of a Kucinich fan,” Meyer said.

E-mail: lgebhart@kent.edu