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Those are the words that Shawn Dixon used to open his introduction of John Edwards to Columbus, Kentucky. A sea of people flooded into Columbus Belmont Park to hear John Edwards pitch his candidacy. Dixon led a “Demand” on the website Eventful.com to get Edwards to come to tiny Columbus to address the issues of rural America. Over 1800 demands were registered at the site. Before it was over, tiny Columbus (pop. 229) won over cities hundreds of times bigger. Eventful.com estimated that of the almost 1900 votes, fewer than 75 were from “out of the region” voters.
Dixon, a scholarship law student at NYU flew home to the nearest airport at Paducah, Kentucky, sixty miles away on Wednesday evening to be home for the event. He worked hard on his introduction of Edwards. His passionate introduction of the candidate had one senior citizen hoping he could live long enough to vote “Dixon for President”. Dixon spoke of the disparities in health care, internet access and opportunity that millions of rural Americans face each day.
“And that”, he said, iIs NOT all right with me.” He told the crowd he had been willing to host any presidential candidate who would come to Columbus.
“John Edwards answered the call” He told his friends and neighbors. “John Edwards understands rural America”.