EDWARDS DRAWS DISTINCTIONS WITH GOPERS

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http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/12/12/513225.aspx

EDWARDS DRAWS DISTINCTIONS WITH GOPERS
From NBC/NJ's Tricia Miller

GRINNELL, IA -- In his second appearance of the day, Edwards again hailed the results of a CNN poll released yesterday that showed him beating each of the top four Republican candidates. He took the opportunity to differentiate himself from the eventual Republican nominee.

"I want to say next fall when the debate takes place between me and whoever turns out to be the Republican candidate, we're going to give the American people very clear choices," he said. "I mean, if you want to see the war in Iraq continue, you should vote for him. If you want to see the war brought to an end, you should vote for me. If you want to see the same health care system rising costs that you're paying for health care today, you should vote for him. If you want to see real health-care reform and universal health care, you should vote for me."

After his stump speech, Edwards' first question came from a college student who said he was a Republican and asked why a Republican should support the former North Carolina senator. The candidate told him that he should vote for him if he believes “powerful entrenched interests” have too much power in Washington and assured him that he would tell the American people the truth if he’s elected president.

Edwards also took questions on same-sex marriage, the people he would appoint as Cabinet secretaries, his health-care mandate, how to caucus, the Senate’s energy bill, illegal immigration, global warming, recidivism rates, No Child Left Behind, and public transportation. He avoided answering two questions: whether he would run on the same ticket as Hillary Clinton and who he would vote for if he were not running.