Former U.S. Sen. John Edwards' stump speech on the presidential campaign trail focuses on the fight he wants to wage against special interests, such as health insurance companies and drug companies.

He offers a variety of biographical nuggets to illustrate his readiness for such a confrontation, including a tale of getting beat up at age 4 or 5, Mark Johnson reports.

Edwards tells crowds that his father sat him down and told him he should never start a fight, but that he should never walk away from one. Then he approvingly recalls his father's instructions:

"He said, 'Tomorrow you go out and find that kid and kick his butt," Edwards tells voters.

Dome suspects the teachers union would disagree.