John Edwards made his first visit to Iowa today since being named John Kerry’s democratic runningmate for President. Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack, who’d also been in the running the become Kerry’s vice presidential pick introduced Edwards. The North Carolina senator didn’t take long to go after the current administration, referring to today’s release of the report on the failure of British intelligence before the war in Iraq. He says British Prime Minister Tony Blair didn’t run from the report, he instead took full responsibility for the mistakes. Edwards says Kerry would take credit for the good and the bad if he’s elected. Edwards says Kerry has given a lifetime of service to the country — including his service in Vietnam. He says when Kerry left Vietnam he didn’t stop, he says he went on to become a prosecutor, protecting people from crime. He says he was a leader in the Senate, fighting for jobs, health care, and clean air. He says he stood up for family farmers, which is important for Iowa. Edwards continued with his theme of standing up for Americans. He says “one thing you can take to the bank” every single day that John Kerry is in the White House, Edwards says he will tell the American people the truth. Edwards spokes about 25 minutes before a crowd of a couple of thousand people on the west side of the state capitol building.
