Excerpts of Senator John Edwards' Convention Speech (As Prepared for Delivery)

BOSTON, July 28 /PRNewswire/ -- The following are excerpts of Senator John Edwards' Convention Speech:

These are the values John Kerry and I believe in, and nothing makes me prouder than standing with him in this campaign. I am so humbled to be your candidate for Vice President of the United States.

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[John Kerry's crewmates] saw up close what he's made of.  They saw him reach down and pull one of his men from the river and save his life.  And in the heat of battle, they saw him decide in an instant to turn his boat around, drive it straight through an enemy position, and chase down the enemy to save his crew.

Decisive.  Strong.  Aren't these the traits you want in a Commander in Chief?

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The Republicans are doing all they can to take this campaign for the highest office in the land down the lowest possible road.

This is where you come in.  Between now and November-you, the American people-you can reject the tired, old, hateful, negative, politics of the past. And instead you can embrace the politics of hope, the politics of what's possible because this is America, where everything is possible.

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Some of our friends and neighbors saw their last images in Baghdad.   Some took their last steps outside of Fallujah.  And some buttoned their uniform for the final time before they went off and saved their unit.

Men and women who used to take care of themselves, they now count on others to see them through the day.  They need their mother to tie their shoe, their husband to brush their hair, and their wife's arm to help them across the room.

The stars and stripes wave for them.  The word hero was made for them. They are the best and the bravest.   They will never be left behind, and you understand that.  And they deserve a president who understands that on the most personal level what they have gone through -- what they have given and what they have given up for their country.

Source: Democratic National Convention Committee

CONTACT:  Peggy Wilhide of the Democratic National Convention Committee,
+1-617-366-3100

Web site:  http://www.dems2004.org/