Edwards to Democrats: Don't give up on Deep South

Corrections and clarifications: An earlier version of this story misspelled Caroline Fayard's first name.

PHILADEPHIA — John Bel Edwards said Wednesday his successful bid for governor last year proves Democrats shouldn’t give up on the Deep South.

“But let me tell you when you can’t win," Edwards told a roomful of Louisiana and South Carolina delegates at the Democratic National Convention. "You can't win if you don’t believe and if you don’t run."

The joint Louisiana-South Carolina convention breakfasts often feature high-profile Democrats whose mission is to pump up delegates. Other speakers Wednesday included Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio, the convention's chairwoman and former chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu and former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter.

Earlier in the week, Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, South Carolina Rep. James Clyburn, the assistant Democratic leader, and former Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu addressed the delegations.

Throughout the week, speakers pointed to Edwards’ win last year as a major victory for Democrats, particularly in the increasingly red state. Landrieu, who lost re-election in 2014, was one of the last Democratic senators from the Deep South.

“We need the South," said Fudge. “I listen to the new governor from Louisiana talk about what he has done in his very short time as governor. He has given health care to more than 200,000 people. I think that sometimes we forget that you can’t govern if you can’t win."

Edwards said many doubted he could win against Republican Sen. David Vitter, who lost to Edwards in a runoff in December. He said it’s important that Democratic candidates make their positions clear and stand by them.

“Nobody wants somebody who is wishy-washy," he said. “If you’re running from your identity, nobody’s going to trust you."

Edwards hopes his victory will help Democrats win the race to replace Vitter, who decided not to seek re-election after his loss in the governor's race. Democrat Caroline Fayard, one of the 20 candidates vying for the seat, pitched her candidacy at the convention.

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In a rousing salute Tuesday night, Louisiana delegates cast most of their votes for Hillary Clinton as the party's presidential nominee.

During his 12-minute speech Wednesday, Edwards referred to the 260,000 Louisiana residents who now have health care because of his decision to expand the state's Medicaid program. He also took aim at former Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal, who he said left him with the largest budget deficit in state history.

Edwards also talked about the high rate of incarceration in the state and recent shootings. Louisiana has been in the spotlight since the fatal shooting of a black man by Baton Rouge police and the shooting deaths of three Baton Rouge police officers.

Edwards left the convention early Wednesday to attend a memorial service for police officers. Vice President Joe Biden and Attorney General Loretta Lynch are expected to attend.

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“We’ve got to make sure that the police are not scared of the people and the people are not scared of police," Edwards said to rousing applause. “Like most places in the country, we have our share of work to do… But I can stand before you today and tell you we are well on our way."

Edwards said community and faith leaders have stepped up to have constructive discussions. He said he expects what happens in Louisiana over the next few months will be a model for the country on how a community comes together to deal with the problems.

Edwards, who comes from a family of law enforcement officials, said communities must reduce the too-frequent use of lethal force.

“That has to happen across the country," he said after the breakfast. “The good thing in Louisiana is the law enforcement community itself is saying they want to be proactive and go out and look at other agencies across the nation that have adopted new strategies that have proven effective."

Contact Deborah Barfield Berry at dberry@gannett.com. Twitter: @dberrygannett