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Edwards to stay in Democrat race
09/01/2008 11:03 - (SA)
Manchester, New Hampshire - Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards took his third-place New Hampshire finish in stride on Tuesday, pledging to carry his battle forward despite difficult odds. "I am in this race until the convention," he told supporters.
Edwards had campaigned on a message of ridding Washington of special-interest corruption, and he made clear that despite finishing well behind his two main rivals he would not change course as the race heads toward "Super Tuesday" next month.
"I am in this race until we have actually restored the American dream and strengthened and restored the middle class in America," he said.
In New Hampshire, Edwards had 17% of the vote, compared with 39% for Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and 37% for Senator Barack Obama. Edwards, a former North Carolina senator and 2004 Democratic vice presidential contender, finished second in Iowa's Democratic caucuses last week.
"Two races down, 48 states left to go," Edwards said.
Edwards offered his congratulations to Clinton and Obama.
Still, said Edwards, "I intend to be the nominee of my party."
"Up until now, about half of one percent of Americans have voted. Ninety-nine percent plus have not voted. And those 99% deserve to have their voices heard because we have had too much in America of people's voices not being heard," Edwards said.
His wife, Elizabeth Edwards, who spoke before Edwards, said, "This day, we have taken steps. Not as big steps as we wanted. But ones of which we're enormously proud."
"You never get anything if you don't work for it," she said.
- AP
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