LEWISTON – After standing in line waiting her turn to shake Democratic vice presidential candidate John Edwards’ hand Sunday, Serena Dube’s face was flushed, probably from the heat in the armory. Or maybe because Edwards left her star-struck.

“I love him!” said Dube, of Poland. “I shook hands with him, I spoke to him! … He’s a very attractive candidate for me.”

Like Dube, many got close and personal with the candidate. After Edwards gave his 30-minute speech calling Iraq “a mess,” he spent 30 more minutes answering questions.

Ask anything you like, Edwards said.

Janet Mills of Farmington said Maine and the 2nd District suffer from a high tax burden, manufacturing jobs that have gone overseas, and small businesses crippled with skyrocketing health care costs. What would, Mills asked, the Kerry-Edwards team to do bring back good paying jobs?

Edwards replied there’s a “clear divide” between Kerry-Edwards and Bush-Cheney. “This administration has said repeatedly that the outsourcing of millions of American jobs over the next decade is good for the American economy.”

“Booooooo,” hissed the audience.

“I’ll tell you what’s good for the economy: Outsource George W. Bush.”

The audience cheered, then gave him a standing ovation.

Kerry-Edwards will “get rid of tax cuts for American companies sending jobs overseas” and enforce trade agreements. Edwards said the administration has been unwilling to do that. Unfair trade makes it impossible for America to compete with China.

Another woman stood to complain about the war and pollution. She has asthma and said the environment makes people’s health worse.

Edwards agreed, saying the environment will be cleaner under a Kerry-Edwards administration. As U.S. senators, he and Kerry fought with the administration “over their efforts to gut the laws that protect our air.” If the administration keeps the changes, there’ll be more respiratory and other health problems. “Because the energy companies were for it, they were for it,” Edwards said.

Bob Gelinas of Lewiston rose, but didn’t have a question. “George Bush and Dick Cheney aren’t worthy to wipe the mud off John Kerry’s boots,” he announced.

The audience laughed.

“I’ll take that as a statement and not a question,” Edwards said.

Rachel Rodrigue said Gelinas is her great-uncle, and that he had served in World War II. Gelinas said his son served in Vietnam, “and I’m the grandfather of an Iraqi veteran.”

Edwards was quiet for a few seconds as he stared and smiled at the old man. “Bless you,” he said.

Another woman expressed frustration about the nation’s reliance on foreign oil. She asked, What’s the problem with developing alternative energy, solar and wind?

“There is no problem with that,” Edwards said, adding that it won’t happen with the current administration. The country’s oil dependence and President Bush’s relationship with the Saudi royal family “is so unhealthy for this country.” When the price of gas goes up, “take a wild guess what happens of the profits of the big oil companies?”

“They go up,” the audience yelled.

“Oh yeah,” Edwards said. Kerry-Edwards will make the country less oil-dependent, create new energy jobs and improve the environment, he said.

One young woman got the last question: “What’s your plan for reinstating the draft?”

There will be no draft when John Kerry is president, Edwards said. There was more applause and cheers. “Not only that, we’re going to get rid of this back-door draft we have now” with overusing the National Guard.

After the questions, Edwards shook hundreds of hands for 20 minutes.

Nancy Cunningham of Lewiston, mother of Daniel Frances Cunningham Jr., who was killed in Iraq last year, wore a button with a photo of her son in uniform. She was impressed with Edwards. “He’s very genuine in what he wants and what he plans to do.”

Ed Desgrosseilliers of Auburn noticed how Edwards shook more hands and met more people than his staff wanted him to. “He’s reaching out to people. I get a good, warming feeling with him.”

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