Edwards Gives Impromptu Truck-Bed Speech [in Rush's Home Town!]

[West Coast Democrat]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=536&ncid=536&e=4&u=/ap/20040805/ap_on_el_pr/edwards

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Democratic vice presidential candidate John Edwards climbed aboard the back of a pickup truck for an impromptu rally Thursday after hundreds of supporters showed up in the parking lot of the motel where he stayed overnight.

Encouraged by the turnout, Edwards staffers passed out signs that read "America Can Do Better" and "Help is on the Way." They even bought two large boxes of doughnuts and passed them out among people at the Victorian Inn in this southeast Missouri town.

Edwards had planned to spend just a few minutes shaking hands with supporters before heading to St. Louis, where he and John Kerry will board a westbound campaign train. Instead, he delivered a short speech in which he pledged a Kerry administration would work to create jobs, improve health care, fight terrorism and protect veterans.

(snip)

The turnout was a bit of a surprise in heavily Republican Cape Girardeau, the hometown of conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh. Many in the crowd said they were simply ready for a change. "I don't believe in the war situation, and I don't like the way the economy is going," said Roy Davault, 78, of Cape Girardeau.

[THUNDER HANDS]

1. wow, Rush country

I wonder if Edwards scored some 'pep' pills from ol' Rush while he was down there.

[cthrumatrix]

2. what does shrub do? eat raw corn on the cob

[Rebel_with_a_cause]

6. Raw? What a man!

*sigh*

[Ignis]

16. ...And that's just in the Corn States!

Wait until they get to the Cattle States!

;)

[ellie]

18. Ha!

Good one Ignis!

[Greyskye]

30. LOL!

:thumbsup:

And in case you haven't heard it yet (or even if you have) Welcome to DU!

[rustydog]

32. He had to eat it raw, he lost the recipe for cooking corn on the cob

[k in IA]

3. I wish they had a picture of him on the flat -bed.

[Ilsa]

14. I wish they had a picture of Shrub...

falling out of the bed of a pickup.

Hey, it could happen. He can't stay upright on a Segway or a bicycle.

[k in IA]

19. LOL

[Racenut20]

4. Did he do an "aw shucks, gee, golly" speech. LOL I love it

Edwards seems to be going right to heart beat of the Repub support base in Mo. Cape, Joplin, Springfield. That is simply great. He has the stuff to pull that off.

[tandot]

5. I especially like this part:

The turnout was a bit of a surprise in heavily Republican Cape Girardeau, the hometown of conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh. Many in the crowd said they were simply ready for a change.

Great!!!

Lots of moderate Republicans with brain and a conscience will jump ship. They are all fed-up with that incompetent warmonger

[wicket]

7. that's awesome!!!!!

This really makes my day :)

[Az_lefty]

8. "Help is on the way"?

I thought it was "Hope is on the way". The first one is bush's slogan from the last election.

[KansDem]

11. I saw/heard both slogans during the Democratic Convention...

I like the "Hope" version better and, if it really takes off this campaign season, plan to have a bumper sticker printed that reads:

Irritate the Media: Vote for Hope:dem:

[fob]

13. At the DNC Edwards did the HOPE thing and Kerry the HELP, which

was brilliant IMO. Edwards as the VP (aka Future President) gave the speech about the future, Hope and set up Kerry as the man to bring about the conditions for Hope to gain seed. Kerry, the man for NOW came in and swept up with the CURRENT theme of Help is on the way.

Kerry brings help for now and Edwards to Hope fo rthe future - Great theming.

[jean]

15. Edwards used 'Hope is on the Way' and Kerry used "Help is on the Way'

in their convention speeches. I've heard that the 'Help' phrase was used by Cheney - - - lt them complain.

[Beetwasher]

9. This Is Amazing! I'm Really Starting to Believe That There is A Very Real

and very fundamental shift happening...

[West Coast Democrat]

20. I think that may be the case...

Margaret Carlson on CNN (Crossfire) was very surprised at the 20,000+ turnout in her home town of Harrisburg, PA over the weekend. That's a very Republican town too.

[Triana]

10. Very cool!!!

Edwards ROCKS!

:)

He is SO sharp, even unscripted and taken by surprise. Can ANYONE imagine Drinky Dumbass doing something like this?

I DON'T THINK SO!!

[yellowcanine]

12. If Southeast Missouri is tired of Bush - maybe Kerry will take MO.

This is a good sign. Keep them coming.

[MODemocrat]

41. Kerry/Edward's swing through Missouri is going very well

Local news anchor from Kansas City is traveling with them, and on his report this evening from Jefferson City, David Helling said "There were large crowds at each stop." He will be reporting again tonight.
I believe Kerry and Edwards and families will arrive in Kansas City later this evening, and will hold a rally at the Union Station in KC, tomorrow (Friday) evening. I have tickets to attend this rally.

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :hi:

[Sequoia]

17. Passed out dougnuts....

I'll bet some cops came over for those! Crowd control and all that. Sounds like it was a good rally.

[Doosh]

21. very cool

[Lex]

22. Here's some good shots of Edwards in Memphis TN

Democratic vice presidential nominee John Edwards (news - web sites) leans into the crowd to shake hands as a Sercret Service agent holds onto his belt at a campaign stop in Memphis, Tenn. on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2004. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

[Judi Lynn]

25. Great photos. They look like really decent folks, too. Thanks. n/t

[montana_hazeleyes]

29. These pictures remind me of the days of Bobby Kennedy

And you can tell he is loving this and the crowd loves him. It's so refreshing.

[Lex]

31. The lady I love is in the bottom to the right of Edwards with an evil grin

The one in the hat with the buttons?

She just knows she could give him a little love bite on his chest, if she wanted.

hahaha

[Sequoia]

36. What about Mr. Grabby Guy pulling on his belt

What's that all about? Yes, that woman looks like a cat about to swallow a canary.

[calimary]

38. Probably one of his Secret Service people, trying to make sure

he didn't get pulled down onto, or fall forward into, the crowd.

[Lex]

43. Yes, that is exactly what the caption explains

about the guy holding onto Edwards' belt. Secret Service.

[KittyWampus]

40. MAN! Edwards Is In The THICK Of The Crowd!

that is amazing... A VP candidate being so close to the people.

That hand on his belt in the last photo is probably secret service.

[MODemocrat]

42. Those are adorable photos

Thanks for posting them; you have really lifted my spirits.

Marian in Missouri.:thumbsup: :hi: :yourock:

[Terran]

23. There are good Dems in SE Missouri!

Cape Girardeau is also the home of Rebecca Cook, a great Dem former Secretary of State who is running for Lieutenant Governor in Missouri. Interestingly, she's running against Senator Peter Kinder, who is *also* from Cape Girardeau. Becky Cook has a huge following, and I think she could not only beat Kinder but could help carry that area of the state for Kerry.

[maxrandb]

24. Only Way This Could Have Been Better

Would be if he had a patch of astoturf ala Clinton. Talk about karma. That little bit of a punch to Rush's stomach may have made his head explode.

Anyway, why is Rush not in jail yet?

[West Coast Democrat]

26. Does anyone know whether Rush mentioned this on his show?

[West Coast Democrat]

27. Another version of the story....

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/politics/9327597.htm?1c

(snip)

"We need you," Edwards told the crowd. "We can do great things for this country together with your help."

For many, the brief speech was secondary to the chance to shake hands with the North Carolina senator, who at 51 is known for his boyish good looks.

"I'm so star-struck," one woman said.

Democratic lieutenant governor candidate Bekki Cook of Cape Girardeau, who met Edwards briefly before the event, said her husband couldn't join her but warned, "Don't leave with that guy."

[llmart]

28. I am sooooo glad.....

Kerry had the foresight to choose Edwards as his running mate.

[RamboLiberal]

33. Some Pics from Cape Girardeau paper

http://www.semissourian.com/

[Lex]

34. Thank you for posting those!!!

The one where he's hugging the lady makes me want to cry.

He's not afraid of people--to touch them, to wade into a crowd. It's really heartening.

[Zorro]

37. I hope he keeps his guard up

It's refreshing to see the interaction, but there are real risks with wading into the crowds.

[PeaceProgProsp]

39. The 2nd last picture - of the woman hugging him - chokes me up

What drives people to pour their emotions into a candidate for public office like that?

Hope.

[Window]

35. Way to go Edwards!

.

[DaveSZ]

44. Funny pic:

Democratic Presidential nominee Senator John Kerry (news - web sites) (L) plays a guitar with a band after a campaign event in Jefferson City, Missouri, August 5, 2004. Kerry and his running mate John Edwards (news - web sites) were on the first day of a campaign train trip taking them to several key Midwestern and western states with less than 100 days until the presidential election. REUTERS/Mike Segar US ELECTION