Kerry presented clear message on nation's future, Edwards said

Edwards visited Ohio for the 14th time this year.
HUBER HEIGHTS, Ohio (AP) -- Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry turned in a strong performance in his debate with President Bush and made clear that his top priority is protecting the country, Kerry's running mate said Friday.
"What America saw last night is that John Kerry is a man of truth, conviction, vision -- a man who is ready to be the next commander in chief," Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina told a crowd of 800 during a town hall meeting in this Dayton suburb.
Edwards said Bush appeared to be thinking he was on his territory as the debate began at the University of Miami.
"What he didn't expect was the next commander in chief was going to walk on that stage," Edwards said.
Clear message
He said Kerry's message was clear on the war in Iraq and terrorism.
"His message to the troops is we are with you," Edwards said. "His message to the terrorists is we will destroy you."
Edwards said Kerry will accelerate the reconstruction of Iraq and the training of Iraqi security forces.
To underscore how important Ohio is to the Democrats, Edwards began his 14th trip to the state this year Thursday with a rally in Columbus immediately after the debate.
Bush won Ohio by 3.6 percentage points in 2000 and no Republican has been elected to the White House without taking Ohio.
Bush spokesman Kevin Madden said the debate was a triumph of substance over style.
"The president made a very compelling case for decisive leadership," he said.
Economy
Edwards said at the town hall meeting that Ohio has lost 237,000 jobs since Bush became president.
"Ohio has more reason than virtually anybody in America to replace this president," Edwards said.
He said the Bush economy has made it difficult to make ends meet for many people and that foreclosures are rising around the country.
"People are losing their homes," he said. "We can do better in America."
Madden said the president is focused on growing the economy in Ohio and creating jobs.
"John Kerry and John Edwards merely keep preaching about higher taxes and more spending," Madden said.
One of those who attended the meeting, Linda Niece, 59, of Huber Heights, applauded Edwards' enthusiasm.
"He brought me to tears," said Niece, a Kerry-Edwards supporter. "He's a beautiful human being and his smile is contagious."
Niece said health care is the biggest issue for her. "We don't have insurance because we're diabetic," she said of herself and her husband.