Edwards quits Democratic presidential race

[0:23] ..." all possible. It because they care about their country. I began -- presidential campaign here to remind the country that we as citizens and as a government. Have a moral responsibility to each other. And what"...

[3:26] ..." he was fifty years ago. His amazing story gave this campaign voice. Universal healthcare for every man woman and child in America that is our -- And we did this -- did this for each other"...

[5:04] ..." a proud progressive occupy the White House. Now I've spoken to both senator Clinton and senator Obama. They have both pledged to me and more importantly through me to America. That they won't make ending poverty. Central to their"...

[0:01]" Thank you all very much we're very proud to be back here. Here in the spring of 2006 the extraordinary experience brings 700 college kids here to New Orleans to work these are kids who gave up there sprained right. To come to New Orleans to work to rehabilitate houses because of their commitment as Americans because they believe -- all possible. It because they care about their country. I began -- presidential campaign here to remind the country that we as citizens and as a government. Have a moral responsibility to each other. And what we do together matters. We must do better if we want to live up to the great -- this country that we all love so much is appropriate that -- come here today. It's time for me to step to step aside so that history can so that so that history can blaze -- path. We do not know who looked like the final steps to 1600 Pennsylvania avenue but what we do know is that I Democratic Party will make history. We will be strong we will be unified and without convictions and a little backbone. We will take back the White House in November. And we'll create hope not. This journey of hours began right here. In New Orleans it was a December morning in the lower Ninth Ward when people went to war. Not just me but lots of others went to work with shovels and hammers to help restore -- house that have been destroyed -- storm. We join together in a city that have been abandoned by abandoned by our government and had been forgotten. But not about us we need that they still mourn the dead that they were still stunned by the destruction. And that they wonder when all those cement steps in all those vacant slots would once again lead to a door to a home in to a drain. We came here to the lower in that order rebuilt. And we're gonna we're rebuilt today and work today and we will continue to come back. We will never forget the heartache and we'll always be here to bring them hell hope so that some day one day. The trumpets will sound in musician's village where we are today. Play -- Across lake punches trying to the working people can come marching in those steps once again can lead to a family living up to dream an America. We set with poultry workers in Mississippi. Janitors in Florida nurses in California we listened as child after child. Told us about their worry about whether we would preserve the plant. We listened to worker after workers say that the economy is Karen my family apart. We walked the streets of Cleveland. We're house after house was in foreclosure and we said we're better than this and economic justice in America is our calls. And we spent a day a summer day in wise Virginia. With a mandate James Le who tells the story of having been born with a cleft palate. He had no health care coverage is family couldn't afford to fix it and finally some good samaritan came along and pay. For his cleft -- to be fixed which allowed him to speak for the first time but they did it when he was fifty years ago. His amazing story gave this campaign voice. Universal healthcare for every man woman and child in America that is our -- And we did this -- did this for each other in America we don't turn away. From a -- their time of need because every one of us and that but but for the grace of god there goes us the American people have never stopped doing this even when -- government locked away. And walked away a pass from hardworking people and yes. From look for those who live in poverty in this country. For decades we stop focusing on those struggles they didn't register political wells they didn't get us but -- and so we stop talking about it. I don't know have started I don't know what our party begin to turn away from the cause of working people from the fathers who are working three jobs literally just to pay the -- Mothers sending their kids to bed wrapped up in their clothes and and codes because they couldn't afford to pay for the we narrowed our brothers and sisters had been bullied into believing that they can't organizing can't -- union in the workplace. Well in this campaign we didn't -- kids. We let them land gap it we said we see you we hear you and we are with you and we will never forget you. And I have a feeling that if the leaders. That the leaders are great Democratic Party. Continue to hear the voices of working people a proud progressive occupy the White House. Now I've spoken to both senator Clinton and senator Obama. They have both pledged to me and more importantly through me to America. That they won't make ending poverty. Central to their campaign for the presidency. More importantly. They have pledged to me that as president of the United States they were making make ending poverty and economic inequality central to their presence. This is the call of a lot -- now have their commitment to engage in this solves and I want to say to everyone here. All the way here today. We passed under a bridge -- theaters today where a hundred to 200 homeless Americans sleep every night. And we stopped we've got out we went that waited spoke to them there was a minister Blair who comes every morning. And feeds the homeless out of our own pocket. She -- he has no money left in her bank account she struggles to be able to do it. But she does is the moral just and right thing to did and I spoke to some of the people who were there and as I was leaving one woman said to me. You won't forget this will you. Promise me you won't forget us. Well I say to her and I say it all those who were struggling in this country we will never forget you we will fight for you we will stand up -- you. But I want to say they asked. I want to say this because it's important with -- all of the injustice that we've -- I can say this America's our transformation is upon. It may be hard to believe when we have bullets flying in Baghdad in May be hard to believe when it costs 58 dollars to fill your car with gas. It may be hard to believe when your school doesn't have the right books for you kids. It's hard to speak out for change when you feel like your voice is not being hurt but I do hear -- we hear. This Democratic Party hears you we hear you once again and we will lift you up -- our dream of what's possible one America. One America. That works for everybody one America. We're struggling towns in factories come back to live because we finally transformed our economy by ending our dependence on all. One America. Where the men who work delay -- and the women who get up McDonald's drive a two hour commute and the young person who closes the store to save for college. They will be honored the network. One America word no job we'll go to bed hungry because we will finally in the moral shame -- 37 million people living in poverty. One America. Where every single man woman and child in this country has health care one America with one public school system that works for all of our children. One America. That finally brings this war in Iraq to -- and it brings our service members home with the hero's welcome that they have erred in that they deserved. Today I'm spending my campaign for the democratic nomination for the presidency. But I want to say this to everyone. With Elizabeth with my family with my friends -- all the view and all of your support this out of a male workers going to be just back. Our job now is to make certain that America will be fine. And I want to thank everyone who has worked so hard. All those who have volunteered my dedicated campaign staff who worked absolutely tirelessly in this campaign. Analysts say a personal word does I've seen literally in the last few days. Those -- solved in Oklahoma yesterday in Missouri last night in Minnesota. It came to me and said don't forget us speak for us we need your voice. I want you to know that you almost -- mama. Because I hear your voice I -- you in your calls -- act calls your country needs. Every single one it. All of you who have been involved in this campaign this movement for change in this calls we need you. It is an hour hour of -- that you country needs you don't turn away. Because we have not just the city of New Orleans to repeal we have an American house to regale. This work goes well it goes -- arrived here musician's village their hopes to build here in neighborhoods all along the gulf. The work goes -- for the students and crumbling schools just lore girding for a chance to get ahead. It goes offered daycare workers for still workers risking their lives in cities all across this country. And the worked ozone. For 200000 men and women who wore the uniform of the United States of America proud veterans who go to sleep. Every night under bridges or in shelters our own grapes just as the people we just saw on the way here today. -- causes are -- their struggle is our struggle. Their dreams are higher rates do not turn away from these great struggles before us do not give up. All the causes that we have all four do not walk away. From what's possible because it's time for all of us all of us together. To make the two Americas one thank you god bless you and let's go to war thank you all very"