Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards wrapped up a six-day, 19-county tour of Iowa with a picnic in yesterday’s noon-time heat. It was the hottest day of the summer, and about 200 people gathered under the shade of a park shelter to greet Edwards when he jumped off his campaign bus. As the folks finished their free picnic lunch, Edwards delivered his standard stump speech. Edwards, a North Carolina Senator who’s term expires next year, talked with reporters afterwards. Edwards dismissed as “fantasy” reports that he would abandon his presidential campaign to return to North Carolina and run for re-election. “I am totally in this to stay,” Edwards said.
