Edwards comes up hoarse on Primary Day

Senator John Edwards works the crowd as he enters the Seneca Institute Family Life Center Monday. Staff/Patrick Collard e-mail this story Related Related stories: • Edwards wins South Carolina primary • Complicated formula used to find delegates • Edwards backers relish South Carolina victory • Edwards clear winner in Pickens County

Campaign workers standing outside the Phillis Wheatley Community Center polling site said the cold air would not help the North Carolina senator's throat. They waved at motorists pulling in to vote in the Democratic primary that Edwards has been favored to win.

Edwards' press secretary for South Carolina, Jenni Engebretsen, said Tuesday morning that Edwards was fine and would resume his schedule of appearances at Presbyterian College later in the morning.

"His voice is just really struggling and so we wanted to just give him a little extra rest this morning," she said.

A Seneca native, Edwards made an appearance in his hometown on Monday night. He shook hands and acknowledged friends and family from the area but only spoke for a few minutes, his voice rough.

"We're just trying to rest him as much as possible so that he'll have voice left this evening," Engebretsen said.

The Edwards campaign is having a party at Jillian's restaurant in Columbia after polls close for Tuesday's South Carolina primary.

Anna B. Brutzman can be reached at 864-298-4394.