Edwards announces plans for presidential tilt

US Senator John Edwards of North Carolina, a first-term Democrat, said yesterday he plans to run for the White House in 2004.

I am running for president," Mr Edwards told NBC's Today show. "Today I'll set up an exploratory committee to run for the presidency, as I told some friends and supporters here at the house yesterday."

"I want to be a champion for regular people, the same people I fought for my whole life," said the former trial lawyer. Edwards has crisscrossed the country for the past year raising money and seeking support for a possible presidential bid.