DURHAM, N.H. – Edwards continues, “get away from the idea that more prisons are going to solve this problem” of inner-city violence.

A young redhead in a Reggie Bush Saints jersey lobs a softball to Edwards on Katrina response in New Orleans.

“We don’t need a surge in Baghdad, we need a surge in New Orleans… You cannot tell any difference in the Ninth Ward from three weeks after the hurricane hit… If the President demanded action in New Orleans, there would be action in New Orleans.”

Edwards pledges to create 50,000 “stepping stone jobs” that would replace Halliburton’s efforts.

Hitting the FEMA response, Edwards asks, “You guys remember Brownie?” It was a quiet response; maybe everyone off camera was nodding.

Cilizza says 63 percent liked his answer.

A MySpace user asks about foreclosures in New Orleans. This is because the hedge fund Edwards worked for foreclosed on some Katrina victims. To his credit, Edwards addresses it, and says he took his money out of that fund, and set up a fund to help those victims.

A young gal in a ONE Campaign t-shirt asks about… the ONE Campaign. Unsurprisingly, he says yes, he thinks AIDS and global poverty are national security issues.

Edwards says he supports needle exchange programs, saying he knows it is constitutional.

This event is supposed to air on MTV tonight, by the way.

Another student asks about influencing China to apply pressure on Sudan. “The Chinese because of their economic development there and their purchase of Sudan’s oil, have enormous leverage on Sudan. We have huge diplomatic and economic leverage on China, and we have to use it.” He also talks about personal divestment from Sudan.

Edwards is doing well, only about 11 percent aren’t liking his answers.

Actual question: “The war on terror is a very controversial issue. War implies that there is some sort of victory in the end. And I don’t know if that sort of thing is possible.”

Edwards denounces “Bush terminology” and then talks about how he would take seriously his responsibility to protect America from terrorists.

A woman who has a cousin on his third tour of duty in Iraq asks about bringing the troops home. Edwards says there is a need for the diplomatic surge. He says Iran has an interest in a stable Iraq. (Yes, a stable, Shia-dominated satellite state.) But again, Edwards has a few better-than-normal professorial moments offering background to an audience that may, or may not, have great familiarity with the basics of the issue.

Edwards says last night’s debate had a “confusing discussion” about getting the troops out of Iraq, over what troops are combat troops. “I will get combat troops out of Iraq.” He said he would leave 2500 or so troops in Iraq, but not for combat. (I hope the insurgents get that memo.)

“You can’t put American embassy workers in an American embassy in Baghdad without having someone there to protect them.”

Cillizza offers a ferociously hostile question from a MySpace user about retreating from Iraq, and “aren’t you on the same side as Osama bin Laden?” Edwards emphasizes that Iraq did not attack America on 9/11, and laments that Osama bin Laden has not been caught yet.

“George Bush has completely worn out our military in Iraq.”

“Scottie” asks about universal health care. You know, the longer a debate or forum goes on, the more certain it is to resemble the questions asked at every previous debate or forum. I’ll skip the summary, as you’ve heard it from Edwards at any previous event, forum or interview.

The follow-up is pretty good, asking if universal health care would take away the incentive to stay healthy, to take care of yourself, to live a healthy lifestyle. Edwards says under his plan, you’ll be taught about nutrition and exercise, and will cover preventative care. Those who are tuned in like his answer.

He later notes that Obama’s plan does not mandate coverage, and is thus not truly universal. “If you don’t mandate coverage, there will be a lot of people who won’t be covered.” He says Hillary Clinton’s plan “is extremely similar to mine.” He points out he’s the only one who has threatened Congress’ health care as ransom if Congress didn’t pass his plan. (Perhaps the next step is hostages.)

A student with degenerative disease that is slowly blinding him asks about adult stem cells.

“We shouldn’t limit the kind of research that can be done,” Edwards says. He also calls for federal funding of stem cell research.

On global warming, “Al Gore is right. Global climate change is a crisis.” He also wants a national cap on carbon emissions, and to reduce emissions by 80 percent … by 2050. He opposes additional nuclear power plants, or any more coal-fired power plants, unless they develop a manner to capture the carbon.