Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards focused on the war in Iraq during a campaign stop in Portsmouth Wednesday.
NHPR Correspondent Roger Wood reports.
Edwards spoke at a town hall style event, apologized for his earlier support of the war, and called for a speedy withdrawal of US forces from Iraq.
He also sought to differentiate his strategy from that of frontrunner Hillary Clinton.
"She said that she would continue to conduct combat missions in Iraq. My view is, if you're not ending combat missions and combat operations, you're not ending the war."
Edwards also blasted the Bush administration and its support of private security forces such as Blackwater personnel, which has been accused of killing several Iraqi civilians last month.
"The event has caused tremendous damage to America's battle for the hearts and minds of Iraqis."
Edwards called for an end of the outsourcing of security in Iraq and a transfer of that function back to the military.
For NHPR News, this is Roger Wood in Portsmouth.
