Democratic presidential hopeful, former U.S. Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina listens during a live, interactive online web cast with MySpace.com and MTV in Durham, N.H., Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007. (AP Photo/Jim Cole)

By ERIK SCHELZIG
Associated Press Writer

COLUMBUS, Ky. (AP) - Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards was scheduled to appear Thursday near a small western Kentucky town to reward a group of supporters who won a contest on his Web site.

The visit to Columbus, with a population of 229, comes after the former North Carolina senator made an eight-state tour this summer through inner cities and parts of Appalachia and the South to highlight the issues of America's poor.

Edwards was expected to speak at Columbus-Belmont State Park, which was built in 1934 by the Civilian Conservation Corps - part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal program for fighting the depression.

The park is on the site of a Confederate strongpoint known as the "Gibraltar of the West" that was defended by 140 cannons and used a heavy chain to block Mississippi River traffic.

In fundraising figures released by some candidates this week, Edwards reported raising $7 million for the summer quarter, far behind the $27 million generated by New York Sen. Hillary Clinton and the $20 million reported by Illinois Sen. Barack Obama.

Edwards has said he plans to accept public financing that could boost his overall fundraising by about $10 million. He reported having $12 million cash on hand.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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