Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards vowed Monday to run a carbon-neutral campaign and challenged other candidates to do the same.

Edwards, a South Carolina native and former U.S. Senator from North Carolina, spoke to about 300 people at Benedict College. He said his campaign will be earth-friendly through conservation.

Edwards said the next president must lead the country toward a national energy policy that lowers the nation's envrionmental impact.

"This is an emergency," Edwards said. "We are near the tipping point. America has to lead."
If elected in 2008, Edwards said he would:

-- Direct the government to invest in alternative energy sources, including wind, solar and biofuels.

-- Ask Americans to conserve by driving fuel efficient vehicles and to conserve energy at home.

-- Propose a national carbon dioxide emissions cap.

Edwards won the 2004 S.C. Presidential primary but lost the nomination and wound up as the Democratic Party's candidate for vice president. He faces a more formidable slate of candidates for the 2008 primary in South Carolina, including U.S. Senators Barack Obama of Illinois and Hillary Clinton of New York.

To win the nomination, Edwards must do well in his native state and recent polls here show him near the lead, although he trails nationally.

Monday at Benedict, Edwards also:

-- Called for U.S. Intervention to end genocide in the Sudan.

-- Said the U.S. Must be "bold" in leading the world to fight AIDS and improve education in dveloping nations.

-- Said the next president must immediately embark on "a goodwill tour" of the world to rebuild America's reputation around the globe.

Edwards came to Benedict from a fundraiser at the home of Marvin Chernoff, a Columbia advertising executive. Afterward he was to head to Charlotte for a concert and fundraiser tonight.