Edwards Campaign Press Release - Edwards Gains Support Across Georgia, Launches "True Blue Majority" Campaign to Lead Democrats to Victory in 2008

Democratic leaders in Georgia explain why Edwards' strength at the top of the ticket will motivate swing voters, helping Democrats maintain and expand their majority in Congress and win in down-ballot races in Georgia and across the nation

Atlanta, Georgia – As part of a new "True Blue Majority" campaign launching this week, today Georgia Democratic leaders held a press conference to announce their support of John Edwards for president.

"It is so important that we nominate a candidate who will motivate swing voters in battleground states, like Georgia, to support the Democratic Party in 2008," said former Governor Roy Barnes. "Poll after poll in red and battleground states shows Edwards to be the strongest Democratic challenger in a general election match-up with the leading Republicans. Edwards' strength at the top of the ticket will help Democrats not only to take back the White House, but also to maintain and expand our majorities in Congress and state legislatures. And his coattails will help lead Democrats to victory in down-ballot races at the state and local level as well."

"We need a leader who can compete anywhere in America, and win," added Barnes. "Some pundits say that a Democrat can't win in some places in the South, Midwest or West. But they're wrong. The right Democratic presidential nominee – one who shares our values, understands our issues and offers real and bold solutions – can win these states. That candidate is John Edwards."

"The American people are tired of being ignored by the folks in Washington. The people who want real change in this nation don't just live in blue states or in swing states – they live in every state in this country and on every street in America," said Edwards. "I am committed to spreading a message of real change in every single state in this country. As the Democratic nominee, I will go to small towns in Georgia that politicians usually ignore and I will work to get Democrats elected to Congress, governorships and state legislatures all across this country."

The following Georgia leaders have endorsed John Edwards for president:

• Former Governor Roy Barnes
• Former Lt. Governor Mark Taylor
• Former Georgia Congressman Ben "Cooter" Jones
• State Senate Democratic Leader Robert Brown
• State House Democratic Leader Dubose Porter
• State Senator Vincent D. Fort
• State Senator Valencia Seay
• State Senator Steve Henson
• State Representative and Chief Deputy Whip Rob Teilhet
• State Representative Stephanie Stuckey Benfield
• State Representative Michele Henson
• State Representative Gerald Greene
• State Representative Jeannette Jamieson
• State Representative Charles Jenkins
• State Representative Billy Mitchell
• State Representative Hugh Floyd
• State Representative Wade Starr
• Former State Senator and Middle Georgia Attorney Michael Moore
• Former State Senator Mel Traylor
• Former State Representative; Former Chairman of the Polk County Party, John Moore
• Former State Representative Tom Bordeaux
• Former Judge of the Georgia Court of Appeals Marion T. Pope
• Kerry Chair and Kerry-Edwards Chair in Georgia, Former Chair of Democratic Party in Georgia David Worley
• Former DNC Executive Committee Member; Former National President, College Democrats of America, Ashley Bell
• Middle Georgia attorney Chuck Byrd
• Macon City Councilman, Mike Cranford
• Macon City Councilman, Rick Hutto
• Macon City Council Elect. Macon Attorney and Democratic Activist Lauren Logan Benedict
• Former Taylor County Sheriff; Past President of the Georgia Sheriff Association, Nick Giles
• Atlanta attorney and former Chief of Staff to Senate Democratic Caucus Amol Naik
• Former Executive Director of the Georgia Democratic Party Jeff DiSantis
• Former Communications Director of the Georgia Democratic Party Emil Runge
• Atlanta business leader Shi Shailendra
• Associate Director for the Conflict Resolution Program; Son of President Jimmy Carter, Jeff Carter
• Attorney Stephen Leeds
• Former Commissioner of Macon-Bibb County Planning and Zoning, Founding Member of Women's Political Network, Founder and Former Editor of Macon Magazine Joni Woolf
• Former Bibb County School Board Member, Terry Tripp
• Co-Founding Chair of the Georgia WIN list , Melita Easters
• Coordinator for Georgia Women for Kerry Edwards in 2004, Amy Morton
• Founder and President of Nannies + More , Sacha Taylor
• Atlanta Attorney; Democratic Fundraiser and Activist , Fred Orr
• Atlanta Attorney; Democratic Fundraiser and Activist , Martin Chitwood
• Atlanta Attorney; Democratic Fundraiser and Activist ,Tim Morrison
• Atlanta Attorney; Democratic Fundraiser and Activist , Tim Santelli
• Columbus Attorney; Democratic Fundraiser and Activist, James Butler
• Marietta Attorney; Democratic Fundraiser and Activist , Ronald Lowry
• Atlanta Attorney; Democratic Fundraiser and Activist , Adam Malone
• Atlanta Attorney; Democratic Fundraiser and Activist Tommy Malone
• Atlanta Businessman, The Shailendra Group; Democratic Fundraiser and Activist Sachin Shailendra,
• Atlanta Attorney; Democratic Fundraiser and Activist Glenn Sturm
• Columbus Attorney; Democratic Fundraiser and Activist, Trip Tomlinson
• Columbus Attorney; Democratic Fundraiser and Activist, Teresa Tomlinson