Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, a 2008 Democratic presidential hopeful, rallied a packed house of eager would-be Las Vegas voters at the Sheet Metal Workers' Union Hall, 2560 Marco St., as he addressed a number of hot-button issues, including health care, poverty, unionization, raising the minimum wage, education and global warming.

"It's important to be political," said 17-year-old Jessica Martin of west Las Vegas. "I will be old enough to vote next year, and I just feel like it's so important to be politically active, educated and informed. That's why I'm here today. I wanted to hear what Edwards has to say on the issues that matter to me, in my life."