Edwards says he’s undecided about presidential run in 2008

The former U.S. senator from North Carolina said his family is focused on the recovery of his wife, who was diagnosed with breast cancer the day after the 2004 general election.

“Our first priority right now is making sure Elizabeth gets well,” he said. “She has finished with her treatment and we are hopeful.”

Edwards said if he does run, three years of traveling the country while running for president and then vice president has taught him what type of leader Americans want.

“What Americans want in leaders is strength,” Edwards said. “Strength comes from conviction.”

Edwards also disagreed with recent comments by Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean, who said Thursday that a lot of Republicans “have never made an honest living in their lives.”

“The chairman of the DNC is not the spokesman for the party. He’s a voice. I don’t agree with it,” Edwards said.

Edwards made his remarks at the Jackson Day dinner, which is the Tennessee Democrats’ largest annual meeting and fund-raiser and is held at Andrew Jackson’s former home, The Hermitage.

The gathering came nine days after the arrest of five current or former state legislators — four of whom are Democrats — in an FBI bribery sting operation code-named “Tennessee Waltz.”

Edwards addressed the incident in his keynote remarks.

“All of us in public life are entrusted with a great responsibility of public trust,” Edwards said. “Despite what has happened it is still a wonderful and noble cause to be in public service.”

State party chairman Randy Button said the indicted lawmakers, as members of the party, were all welcome to attend the event, “but I don’t think any of them are on the list to attend.”

During a news conference before the dinner, Button said indicted state Sen. Kathryn Bowers had made the right decision in resigning from her position as chair of the Shelby County Democratic Party.

State Sen. John Ford, a Memphis Democrat, resigned from the Senate two days after his arrest. Button said he expects that Bowers and Democratic Sen. Ward Crutchfield of Chattanooga will consider resigning from the Senate as well.

Both have said they are innocent.