EDWARDS LAUNCHES NEW AD FEATURING THE FACES OF SOUTH CAROLINA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 11, 2007

CONTACT:
Colleen Murray


EDWARDS LAUNCHES NEW AD FEATURING THE FACES OF SOUTH CAROLINA
Campaign launches its fourth commercial, "Heroes,” in South Carolina, highlighting South Carolina's hardworking men and women
Columbia, South Carolina – In the newest South Carolina ad, “Heroes,” Senator John Edwards reaffirms his commitment to honoring and fighting for America’s true heroes – the working men and women of South Carolina. The ad features footage of Edwards speaking at a campaign event interspersed with images of hardworking Americans – including plant worker Mike Evatt of Seneca, Dr. James Blassingame of Sumter and soul food restaurant owner Martha Grant. The ad can be seen at: www.johnedwards.com/sc/heroes

“If you're looking for heroes, don’t look to me,” Edwards says in the ad. “Don’t look to Elizabeth. We have support. We have health care. We have the American people behind us. Look to them. They are the ones who we speak for. They are the ones that we stand up for. It is time for our party, the Democratic Party, to show a little backbone, to have a little guts. To stand up for working men and women. If we are not their voice, they will never have a voice.”

The launch of this ad builds on Edwards’ growing momentum in South Carolina. Edwards leads Democratic candidates in both campaign stops and money raised in the Palmetto state. Edwards became the first Democratic candidate to launch television ads in South Carolina with his first ad, “American Jobs, America’s Workers” which aired in November. Since then,the campaign has aired two additional ads, including a special Thanksgiving Day message and “Born,” which highlights Edwards’ South Carolina roots and features him outside his childhood home in Seneca, South Carolina. The latest ad, “Heroes,” features hardworking Americans from across South Carolina from Seneca to McClellanville, Columbia to Georgetown.
Last week, Edwards traveled to his hometown of Seneca with his parents, Bobbie and Wallace to visit his childhood home and open the new Oconee County Democratic Headquarters. Later in the day, Edwards addressed 1,000 newly registered voters at his father's high school alma mater, Walhalla High School, before attending the Charleston County Women's Democratic Holiday Party.
A full transcript of the script for the “Heroes” ad is included below. Also included are short biographies of some of the real American heroes pictured in the ad.

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Full Transcript of Ad:

If you're looking for heroes, don’t look to me. Don’t look to Elizabeth. We have support. We have health care. We have the American people behind us.

Look to them. They are the ones who we speak for. They are the ones that we stand up for.

And Elizabeth and I decided, in the quiet of a hospital room, after 12 hours of tests and after getting very bad news, what we were going to spend our lives doing, for all those that have no voice.

We’re not going to quietly go away. Instead we’re going to go out and fight for what it is we believe in.

It is time for our party, the Democratic Party, to show a littlebackbone, to have a little guts. To stand up for working men and women. If we are not their voice they will never have a voice.

I'm John Edwards and I approve this message.

South Carolinians featured in the new "Heroes" ad:

Rev. Dr. James Blassingame is the pastor of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Sumter, South Carolina and Second Vice President of the Baptist Educational and Missionary Convention of South Carolina. Like John Edwards, he is a native of Seneca, South Carolina. Rev. Blassingame is devoted to his community, serving through the NAACP and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He and his wife, Shirley, have three children and five grandchildren.

Martha Grant, a Charleston native, is the owner of Kitty's Fine Foods, a soul food restaurant in downtown Charleston, South Carolina. Her three daughters, Victoria, Sophya, and Felicity, all pitch in to help Martha run one of Charleston's favorite soul food spots. Martha has three grandchildren and is just one shining example of the many hard working citizens of South Carolina who support John Edwards.
Paid for by John Edwards for President.