October 19, 2004, 3:16 AM EDT
TALLAHASSE, Fla. -- His remarks at the nighttime rally finished, John Edwards peeled off his navy sport coat, rolled up his shirt sleeves and hustled off stage, seemingly eager to meet the sea of 10,000 supporters before him.
As U2's "Beautiful Day" blared over the speakers, the Democrat made a beeline for the metal barriers, or "rope line," that separated him from fans packed 50 deep and trying to get close to the man who could be the next vice president.
The scene plays out after every Edwards campaign event, and he appears to enjoy it.
Like other politicians, the North Carolina senator spends anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes working the crowd after each appearance. But his energy and ever-present grin suggest he'd do it for hours if not for the cajoling of aides trying to keep him on schedule.
http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-edwards-style,0,4292502.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlinesThis is exactly what happened when Edwards came to Gainesville on Sunday. He is even more amazing and beautiful in person. I felt like a teenager who had just met my favorite rock star after he shook my hand. It was fantastic. If Kerry or Edwards comes to your town, please go. You are guaranteed to have a great time. Seeing Edwards and being in crowd cheering and yelling, certainly made getting through the next two weeks a lot easier.