McClatchy: Edwards takes political gamble with holiday offensive [View All]

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/17264931.htm

Edwards takes political gamble with holiday offensive
By Jim Morrill
McClatchy Newspapers

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Laura Belin plans to take her children to a Memorial Day parade Monday. There, at the urging of Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, she expects to join others protesting the war in Iraq.

"Everyone knows that we're going to have to start getting our troops out," said Belin, 38, who's from suburban Des Moines, Iowa. "And we need to start getting them out now."

Edwards has called on Americans to "honor the memory of the fallen by acting to end the war and bring (U.S. troops) home." The former North Carolina senator also is asking people to honor the troops with prayer or even a word of thanks.

But his appeal to speak out or attend holiday observances this weekend with signs saying "Support the Troops - End the War" has drawn protests of its own.

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