Edwards campaign event turned into vigil for VA Tech victims

[draft_mario_cuomo]

By BRAD SCHRADE
Staff Writer

==Presidential candidate John Edwards’ planned campaign rally this afternoon at the Ryman Auditorium has been turned into a community vigil in light of the shooting deaths at Virginia Tech, according to an Edwards spokeswoman.

The former U.S. senator had planned to have an upbeat really with bluegrass music, but now will lead the group in prayer, according to Kate Bedingfield, an Edwards spokeswoman.

The stop is Edwards' second in Nashville since the Democrat from North Carolina formally announced his candidacy in December. He attended a living wage event at Vanderbilt University in February, Bedingfield said. Doors at today's event open at 3:30 p.m. with the vigil beginning at 4 p.m.

"The tone of the event has changed drastically," Bedingfield said.==

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070416/NEWS0206/70416052/1001/NEWS

This was a very classy move by Edwards.

[Botany]

1. John knows class and what to do.

Hope he kicks the press out and helps start the healing for our country.

[waiting for hope]

2. Yes - that he is - Class.

K&R

[Cha]

3. Sweet~

Thanks for this~

[Colobo]

4. Classy, very classy...

and I hate to say this... but very smart as well.

[Jacklyn75]

5. Awe! What a nice and thoughtful thing to do!

My heart goes out to all those families tonight!

[tomreedtoon]

6. This, plus Obama's Bobby Kennedy talk...

...shows that the Democrats have some very good candidates in the running. And the fact that Obama and Edwards both led with this, not making a big "vote for me" thing of their rallies but talking from their hearts, puts them ahead of the pack in my estimation.

I'll still worry that the Democratic Party will blow it, but I feel better about these two candidates than I ever felt about Kerry or Gore. They may lose or be backstabbed by the DLC, but if they are, they'll go down as honorable men.

[ChiciB1]

7. Edwards Stays On TOP For Me!! Plus I Have Been Hearing From

more and more people I know who have begun to endorse Edwards even at this very early date! My own daughter who has Obama stickers on her vehicles just ordered a lot of John Edwards stickers and shirts too! We like both of them, but for me it's Edwards FIRST!

Go, Johnny, Go!!