Campaigning For VP

Edwards Kicking GOP Butt In Fundraisers

Former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards said last night that Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld should resign because of the abuses of American-held prisoners in Iraq, but Mr. Edwards declared the real solution is to replace President Bush with Democrat John Kerry.

"This is not about the secretary of defense; this is about the President of the United States," Mr. Edwards told about 1,300 at the Ohio Democratic Party State Dinner.

"If we want to signal to the rest of the world that we in fact emphatically reject what happened, then we want to say to the rest of the world that what happened here is completely inconsistent with American values. If we want to say to the rest of the world we as a nation want to change course here, there is a simple answer to that, which is to elect John Kerry the next president of the United States," he added.

Mr. Edwards said Vice President Dick Cheney received "five deferments to avoid serving in Vietnam "and the President had a "year of his life disappear in the National Guard."

"Those two men are criticizing our candidate for President because of the medals he won. You have got to be kidding me," Mr. Edwards said.

He reprised his "Two Americas" stump speech, saying the country should not have a health system for those who can afford it and no health insurance for many.

"My entire message is about hope and opportunity," said Mr. Edwards, who deflected several questions about whether he's stumping to be Mr. Kerry's running mate.