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Posted: August 9, 2007 6:04 PM
Next Edwards Bus Stop: Iowa
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Democrat John Edwards’ campaign has scheduled its second bus tour of the summer in Iowa to promote the former North Carolina senator’s populist platform. This time, Edwards and his wife, Elizabeth, plan to visit 31 communities in a week.

The tour is slated to kick off in Des Moines on Monday and wrap up there on Aug. 19. Edwards is devoting his time and resources in Iowa in the hopes that the state will once again boost him onto the national ticket, but this time as the front-runner. A recent ABC News-Washington Post poll has Edwards statistically tied with Sens. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and Barack Obama, D-Ill., in the Hawkeye State.

Edwards continued to try to win the labor vote at the AFL-CIO debate in Chicago. As in Iowa, Edwards has worked to secure support among labor to solidify enough support and momentum to capture the nomination. After the debate, the AFL-CIO confirmed it would not yet endorse a candidate, but its member unions are free to do so. Edwards has strong support and a chance for an endorsement among the United Steelworkers and the Teamsters.

A retired steel worker, Steve Skvara, cited his family’s struggles to pay for health care in an emotional question to Edwards at the debate.

“You’re a perfect example of exactly what’s wrong with America, both on pension protection and on health care,” Edwards replied, drawing the cheers of many in the stadium.

The New York Times reported Edwards still has strong support among trial lawyers, but some donations are increasingly going toward rivals Clinton and Obama.