John Edwards in 2007 Democratic primary debate in South Carolina

On Abortion: Gov't should not decide for women on partial-birth abortion

A: This decision by the Supreme Court is a perfect example of what's at stake in this election. The kind of people that will be appointed to the US Supreme Court by the next president will control whether a woman's freedom, freedom to choose, make her own health care decisions will be made by her or will be made by the government or by some men sitting on the US Supreme Court. Now, on the issue of abortion, I believe in a woman's right to choose, but I think this is an extraordinarily difficult issue for America. I think it is very important for the president of the United States to recognize--while I believe the government should not make these health-care decisions for women--I believe they should have the freedom to make them themselves--this is a very difficult issue for many people. And I think we have to show respect for people who have different views about this.

On Corporations: Hedge fund investors help figure out and reduce poverty

A: I think the financial markets are an important component of trying to figure out what it is we need to do about the fact that we have 47 million people without health care, 37 million people who wake up in poverty every day. They play an enormous role in how money moves in this country. And I believe that we have a responsibility to the people in this country who wake up every day worried about feeding and clothing their children. And I think those people in New York who work in financial markets understand--in some ways, at least--what can be done and can play a significant role in trying to lift people up who are struggling. I am proud of what I've been doing for the last few years. You know, I've been all over the country, organizing workers into unions and raising the minimum wage, and also working at a poverty center at the University of North Carolina.

On Energy & Oil: Bold transformation to stop importing 12M bbl of oil per day

A: Well, for a lot of reasons. Number one, is extraordinary demand in America. We use 22 million barrels of oil a day, 12 million of those are imported. It's the reason we have to make a bold transformation from what we are doing now.

On Energy & Oil: Cap carbon emissions & invest in carbon sequestration

On Foreign Policy: Russia has moved from democracy to autocracy

A: What's happened in Russia is they've moved from being a democracy under Yeltsin to being a complete autocracy under Putin. The government has been centralized. Any kind of democratic effort, any opposition party, any opposition voice has been squashed.

On Foreign Policy: Lead international effort on economic development

For that to occur, the world has to see America as a force for good again, which is why I talked about leading an effort to make primary school education available to 100 million children in the world who don't have it, in the Muslim world, in Africa, in Latin America.

Leading an international effort on sanitation, clean drinking water, economic development using microfinance as a tool. I mean, here's a way that America could actually demonstrate its commitment to humanity, which I think is critical for our leadership.

On Health Care: Require employer coverage for every single American

A: I would get rid of Bush's tax cuts for people who make over $200,000 a year. My universal health care plan would require employers to cover all their employees or pay into a fund that covers the cracks in the health care system--mental health parity; chronic care; preventative care; long-term care; subsidized health care costs. Give people a choice, including a government choice. And require that every single American be covered.

On Principles & Values: Biggest professional mistake was voting for Iraq War

A: I was wrong to vote for this war. Unfortunately, I'll have to live with that forever. And the lesson I learned from it is to put more faith in my own judgment.

On War & Peace: Apologized for Iraq war vote; others must search conscience

EDWARDS: No, I think that's a question for the conscience of anybody who voted for this war. Senator Clinton and anyone else who voted for this war has to search themselves and decide whether they believe they've voted the right way. If so, they can support their vote.

CLINTON: I take responsibility for my vote. Obviously, I did as good a job I could at the time. It was a sincere vote based on the information available to me. If I knew then what I now know, I would not have voted that way. But I think that the real question before us is: What do we do now? How do we try to persuade or require this president to change course? He is stubbornly refusing to listen to the will of the American people.

On Welfare & Poverty: Despite mistake on $400 haircut, understands poverty

A: Well, that was a mistake, which we've remedied. It was simply a mistake. But if the question is whether I live a privileged and blessed lifestyle now, the answer to that's yes. A lot of us do. But it's not where I come from. And I've not forgotten where I come from. Many people know that my dad worked in textile mills all his life. The reason I'm running for president of the United States is so that everybody in this country can have the same kind of chances I've had.