Mr. Benjamin Wilson
Chairman, D.C. Board of Elections
441 4th Street, N.W.
Room 250-North
Washington, D.C. 20001

Dear Mr. Chairman:

In accordance with the recently amended D.C. Official Code, Title 1-1001.05(b)(2), I am submitting this letter to you to officially withdraw my name from consideration on your January 13, 2004 Presidential Primary Bal1ot.

I do so with great trepidation, because I firmly believe the voters of the District of Columbia live in a hobbled democracy. It is wrong that the citizens of Washington D.C.
do not have an equal voice in our government.  I am a proud co-sponsor of the No Taxation Without Representation Act and supporter of statehood for D.C.

However, the Rules and Bylaws Committee of the National Democratic Party, under whose auspices I am competing for the Party's 2004 Presidential Nomination, have promulgated two specific Delegate Selection Rules, which compel me to make this difficult decision:

(1) Rule l0A clearly specifies that the opening of the window for states other than Iowa and New Hampshire to hold a primary or caucus shall be February 3, 2004.

(2) Rule 12H specifically requires all Presidential Candidates "to take all steps possible not to participate" in non-binding, or so-called "beauty pageant" presidential contests.

Having said that, I fully intend to compete, and compete strenuously, for the votes of the Democrats of the District of Columbia in your binding Presidential Preference Caucus on February 14, 2004, and in the general election when I am the Democratic nominee. Please know that with this request I in no way mean to signal any disrespect towards you, the residents of the District, or the cause of D.C. voter rights.
 

                                                                                Yours Very Truly,
 

                                                                                John Edwards
                                                                                United States Senator, North Carolina