Edwards readies run for the White House.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

Byline: Mark Johnson

RALEIGH, N.C. _ U.S. Sen. John Edwards, a mill worker's son who rose to be a millionaire trial lawyer, told a crowd of 200 friends and supporters Wednesday night that he is taking the first official step in running for president.

Edwards told the New Year's Day gathering at his home that he is forming a campaign exploratory committee, making him the third Democrat to do so, and will formally announce it this morning. He is expected to break the news publicly on NBC's "Today" show shortly after 7 a.m. EST, followed by a series of news media interviews.

Speaking from the steps in his backyard and flanked by his wife and three children, Edwards prompted a cheer that echoed through the well-to-do Raleigh neighborhood when he delivered his announcement. He touched on themes likely to play heavily in his campaign, such as advancing civil rights and opportunities for the working class, according to guests at the event.

"John Edwards is running for president to give America a clear choice," former U.S. Solicitor General Walter Dellinger said as he left Edwards' house. "President Bush is all about protecting the interests of the powerful and important corporations. John Edwards is going to spend every day advancing the interests of regular people."

Edwards told the group that North Carolina and the South need to take a leadership role in safeguarding and expanding civil rights, a message that could be a cornerstone of his campaign. Edwards sounded the theme just days after the fall of Senate Republican leader Trent Lott of Mississippi, who praised the 1948 presidential campaign of U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C., which was partly based on racial segregation.

Edwards, who delivered four lengthy policy speeches in recent months, did not lay out a campaign platform or delve into many other issues at his backyard get-together, participants said.