Mimms saw some of the major Democratic presidential candidates speak to his union Tuesday, and he places Edwards solidly in his top three presidential preferences.

But he finds it easier to gush about his other two favorites, Democratic Sens. Barack Obama of Illinois and Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York.

Mimms, born in Sampson County, and now a mechanic in suburban Detroit, feels sincerity from Obama and loves Clinton's smarts and ability to stand up to other strong politicians.

With Edwards, he senses the kind of integrity he associates with honest, humble Southerners.

"He's kind of dangling right there in the middle," said Mimms, wondering aloud if Edwards might be willing to settle for the vice presidential slot.

With not quite seven months left before the first states cast primary ballots in the 2008 presidential race, Edwards spoke separately Tuesday to a major labor union and a group of grass-roots activists and tried to distance himself from a very specific perch -- third. Third in a lot of national polls, and third in the amount of money he's raised.

That's not a bad place to be, said Andrew Taylor, chairman of the political science department at N.C. State University.

"He's top tier in numerous ways -- in polls, fundraising, media coverage and visibility," Taylor said. "That's good for him."

Edwards told a conference of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees that his major ideas include providing health care for every American, tackling climate change, rebuilding New Orleans and restoring the U.S. global position as "a force for good."

On his first day as president, he wants to close Guantanamo, the controversial U.S. base in Cuba where terrorist suspects have been held since Sept. 11.

He delighted the labor audience when he corrected the lingo of moderator Chris Matthews of MSNBC, who asked if he was for "check card neutrality."

"I'm for card check neutrality," said Edwards, who got an appreciative response from the crowd before proceeding to explain in detail that workers ought to be able to join a union by signing a card, a key labor priority.

Later, in a speech to the grassroots group Campaign for America's Future, he set up the audience with a question.

"Is it finally time to have a president of the United States that is going to be honest with the American people?" he asked a ballroom of activists.

Then he delivered the confession. His universal health care plan would cost $90 billion to $120 billion a year. But he has a plan to pay for it -- dump President Bush's tax cuts.

It's the kind of message that resonates with Stephen Gewirtz, a retired math professor from Baltimore who showed up to support Edwards at the presidential forum.

What Gewirtz likes about Edwards is his willingness to tell Americans that there are sacrifices involved in making the country better. "He can ask things of the American people," he said. "He'll inspire people. I want a candidate who's going to do what needs to be done."