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Edwards Takes Final Steps Toward Expected Run For President

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina isfinalizing the details of a long-expected run for president,planning a New Year's Day gathering with friends before a series ofinterviews and fund raisers later in the week, associates saidTuesday.

Edwards is expected to announce formation of a presidentialexploratory committee on Thursday, trying to get a jump on severalof his colleagues in Congress who are also expected to join theDemocratic race in the next few weeks.

Associates expect Missouri Rep. Dick Gephardt to announce he'srunning within the next week and Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman isleaning toward a run, though he hasn't set a final timetable forhis decision. Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle is still talkingwith supporters with a plan to decide by mid-January.

Edwards, 49, is entertaining close friends and supporters at hishome in Raleigh, N.C., on New Year's Day, and is scheduling aseries of interviews, including an appearance Thursday on NBC's"Today," according to the associates, who spoke only on conditionof anonymity.

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