Edwards still running — now for veep

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Sen. John Edwards bounded onto the stage, stretched out his arms to give a two-fisted thumbs up and launched into a rhetorical assault on the Bush administration.

More than 1,200 Ohio Democrats rewarded the North Carolina senator with seven standing ovations as he delivered a rousing keynote address to the state party's $150-a-plate annual fund-raising dinner Saturday night.

"Let me tell you what would be good for the American economy: Outsource this administration!" Edwards shouted, pumping up the crowd in a critical battleground state for the November election.

Though his presidential bid ended more than two months ago, when Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry trounced him in the Super Tuesday primaries, Edwards has never really stopped running.

Decorum prevents him from openly talking about the post he's seeking. But it's no secret that the Kerry campaign has been scouring Edwards' background, along with other candidates for the vice presidential slot. An announcement could come before the Democratic National Convention in July.

Though Kerry has been close-mouthed about a running mate, national opinion polls show Edwards as a clear favorite among likely voters. A Fox News poll taken late last month showed Edwards the choice of 18 percent, with the closest runner-up, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, in single digits.

The Ohio hotel ballroom he lit up Saturday night was abuzz with talk of a Kerry-Edwards ticket.

"He's got to be our vice president," said Sandra Reiser, 63, of Portsmouth, Ohio.

"I thought it was one of the best political speeches I've ever heard," added her husband, Tom, a member of the Scioto County Commission.

Edwards insists that he is only "trying to get John Kerry elected president" and won't talk about the vice presidency. But high-powered lobbyists are working on his behalf.

Among them is former Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes, who had dinner with Edwards two weeks ago. Barnes said he has told Kerry he should choose Edwards for a dream ticket. Kerry responded that he was "very impressed" with Edwards but was noncommittal, Barnes said.

Lou D'Allesandro, a veteran New Hampshire state legislator who supported Edwards during the primaries, is talking up Edwards to John Sasso, Kerry's top aide at the Democratic National Committee. "He listens," said D'Allesandro. "He takes my calls and he calls me back."