Former North Carolina senator John Edwards visited a hurricane-ravaged neighbourhood of New Orleans on Thursday to announce his campaign to become president of the United States in 2008.

Standing in blue jeans in the backyard of a woman who lost her home in the storm, Edwards promised he would lead a grassroots, ground-up campaign.

Former Democratic vice-presidential nominee John Edwards, working with student volunteers behind a house in an area affected by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, announced Thursday he is running for U.S. president.
(Charles Dharapak/Associated Press)

"We want people in this campaign to actually take action now, not later, not after the next election," he said.

"Instead of staying home and complaining, we're asking Americans to help," Edwards added. "Most of the good that has been done in New Orleans has been done by faith-based groups, charitable groups and volunteers."

Edwards chose to make his announcement in New Orleans to highlight his signature concern of the economic disparity that divides America.

He pledged to work to eradicate the gap between the poor and those who are comfortable or well off in the United States.

Edwards also tackled foreign affairs in his speech. He said Iraq has been a disaster and America must not send in any more troops.

"The biggest responsibility of the next president of the United States is to re-establish America's leadership role in the world, starting with Iraq," he said.

"We need to make it clear that we intend to leave Iraq and turn over the responsibility of Iraq to the Iraqi people. The best way to make that clear is to actually start leaving."

Edwards said the United States should be a leader elsewhere in the world, too, fighting to end atrocities in Sudan and northern Uganda.

He also said the country should provide universal health care and end its dependence on foreign oil.

Edwards is the leading candidate in early polls of Iowa Democrats, who will get the first say in the nomination fight.

Announcement tour

Edwards is visiting six states between Christmas and New Year's Day as part of his announcement tour, including North Carolina, where he grew up.

Edwards, 53, was the Democratic vice-presidential nominee in 2004 and the running mate of presidential candidate John Kerry.

He performed strongly as a Democratic presidential candidate in the primaries leading up to the 2004 election, but Kerry outpaced him and later invited him to be his running mate.

They lost to the incumbent Republican team of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney.

Two other Democrats have already announced their presidential campaigns: Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack and Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich.

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, wife of former president Bill Clinton, is widely expected to be a candidate as well.

With files from the Associated Press