Edwards itching to do battle with special interests

By Susan Milligan
Globe Staff

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Corporations might be convinced to help stop global warming, be fair in paying for health costs, and keep jobs in the United States. But they might need to be beaten up a little bit first, says John Edwards, who thinks he's just the man for the fight.

The former North Carolina senator, speaking to a standing-room-only crowd at a Manchester town meeting, said his rivals, New York Senator Hillary Clinton and Illinois Senator Barack Obama either don't represent change or aren't ready to go to war against powerful interests.

If the desire for change ``is politically motivated, or academic or philosophical, when the tough fight comes, you will make a deal,'' Edwards said, referring to rivals Obama and New York Senator Hillary Clinton.

``This is not about plans. This is about whether you're personally willing to fight for the change we need,'' Edwards told reporters afterward. As for Obama, ``both of us believe in change,'' Edwards said. But ``he has more of a philosophical, academic approach to it.''

In an emotional display of the battle between a family and a corporation, Edwards introduced as his supporters the family of a young girl who died last month after the family's health insurance company refused to pay for her liver transplant. The insurance company agreed to fund the treatment hours before she died.

``I feel empty inside. My heart is a hole,'' said a tearful Hilda Sarkisyan, mother of 17-year-old Nataline Sarkisyan, who died in December. ``They cannot tell us who's going to live and who's going to die.''

The Edwards campaign said the Sarkisyans had initiated contact with the senator, and offered to come campaign with him.

Edwards' wife, Elizabeth -- who herself is battling breast cancer -- said her husband's willingness to ``fight'' makes him the best of the three leading Democratic candidates on Tuesday.

``The failure to fight doesn't just mean you don't get health care. The failure to fight means people die,'' she said.