John Edwards was chosen by Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry to be his running mate in 2004. Edwards is the son of a millworker; he attended North Carolina State University and then earned a law degree from the University of North Carolina in 1977. Over the next two decades he made his name in North Carolina as a trial lawyer who represented "the little guy" in lawsuits against large companies, frequently winning huge cash awards for his clients. In 1998, in his first run for political office, he defeated incumbent Republican Lauch Faircloth to become North Carolina's junior senator. (With his Southern roots, telegenic good looks and energetic populist style, Edwards was often compared at the time to Bill Clinton.) Edwards himself ran for the Democratic party's presidential nomination in 2004, despite being a relative unknown nationally. He surprised political pundits by making a strong run at the Democratic nomination before finally dropping out of the race in March of 2004 as Kerry wrapped up enough primary wins to clinch the nomination. Kerry announced on 6 July 2004 that Edwards was his choice to run for vice president.

In the 2004 election Kerry and Edwards lost to incumbents George W. Bush and Dick Cheney... Edwards married his wife Elizabeth (birth name Mary Elizabeth Anania) in 1977; she graduated from UNC's law school the same year. They have had four children; their son Wade died at age 16 in a 1996 traffic accident... Edwards is not to be confused with television psychic John Edward.

                       

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