By Kevin Lavery, KWMU
St. Charles, MO – Edwards promised that he and John Kerry would create tax credits for health care costs and to offset high college tuition.
Edwards noted the Bush administration's new restrictions on overtime pay, and vowed that if elected, he and Kerry would immediately reverse that policy.
"Because what the president has done is create the real possibility of a pay cut for millions of Americans who are having trouble already," Edwards said. "The other thing that we need to do is we need to raise the minimum wage in this country."
About 1,000 people attended the event, including a small group of about 10 pro-Bush supporters who staged a peaceful protest outside. Among them was Nathan Wineinger, who denounced John Kerry.
"He goes out and complains about the war in Iraq and says the very next week that he would still vote for the war in Iraq," Wineinger said. "How does that work? He doesn't believe in anything, he doesn't have any convictions that stand for something, and we need somebody in the White House who's willing to stand for his convictions and willing to do what he says. And I think that's President Bush."
St. Charles County is traditionally Republican territory. Edwards' visit was designed to appeal largely to undecided voters.