Edwards says Kerry prepared to keep Americans safe

US Senator John Edwards, a running mate of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, said Wednesday night that Kerry is "prepared to keep the American people safe and to make America stronger at home and respected in the world."

In a speech delivered at the four-day Democratic National Convention, which opened in Boston Monday, Edwards, terming Kerry as "decisive, strong," commended his experience in the Vietnam warand qualifications to be the president.

The North Carolina senator called on the voters in the Novemberelection to "reject the tired, old, hateful, negative politics of the past" and "brace the politics of hope, the politics of what's possible."

Edwards promised that the Democratic ticket "can create good paying jobs," "will give tax breaks to American companies that keep jobs" in the United States, and will help those who live in poverty.

He also promised that when Kerry and he are elected, they "willbuild and lead strong alliances and safeguard and secure weapons of mass destruction," and will strengthen the homeland security ofthe United States.

Edwards said that they "will bring the world together to face our most dangerous threat: the possibility of terrorists getting their hands on a nuclear, chemical or biological weapon."

Edwards impressed voters in Democratic primaries early this year by talking about issues that ordinary Americans were most concerned, such as employment and education, instead of attacking his rivals for the party's nomination.

He finished a surprise second in the first caucuses in Iowa in late January, just behind Kerry, outpacing one-time front-runner Howard Dean, a former Vermont governor.

The 51-year-old senator was chosen by Kerry as his running mateearly this month, and the two are expected to be officially nominated as the Democrats' presidential and vice presidential candidates during the convention.

Source: Xinhua