Sen. John Edwards, D- N.C., came in second to Barack Obama, followed by Hillary Clinton, in the Iowa caucuses on Thursday night, garnering nearly 30 percent of caucus-goers’ votes.

Edwards’ gave his official speech at the Renaissance Savory Hotel in Des Moines, focusing not on his loss, but dwelling on themes that had brought him to popularity in Iowa before – working for the middle class and standing up to corporate lobbyists and health insurance companies.

He mentioned that even though money could have played a deciding factor in the outcome of the caucus, he still hopes voters will see beyond finances and elect him.

“One thing that is clear from the results in Iowa tonight is the status quo lost and change won,” Edwards said in his official speech. “What the Iowa caucus-goers said is we want something different. We are different.”

Edwards did not specifically name the top winners of the caucuses, but instead he said possibly their finances got them into their positions.

“What we’ve seen here in Iowa is two candidates who thought their money would make them viable,” he said. “If you stand up to corporate greed, the American people are unstoppable, no matter how much money.”

Edwards ended his speech by contending his message will be spread across the country.

“There is starting a wave, a tidal wave of change that will follow from here to New Hampshire, Nevada and to South Carolina,” he said.

Brittney Hay, of Des Moines, said even though she was saddened by Edward’s loss, she was still going to back him anyway.

“It’s sad that he came in second, but he came in first in our district and that’s what we wanted,” she said. “I’ll still be voting for John Edwards.”

Edwards’s volunteers and supporters had come to Iowa from all over the United States to watch the caucus process and to be there for their candidate.

Judy Ahrens, an Edward’s campaign volunteer from Cedar Rapids, said in the days leading up to the caucuses, she had been gathering people from California, Virginia, Washington, Kentucky and North Carolina.

“In the last few days out of my home, we’ve been canvassing, picking up material and taking it out and door knocking. This is weather that has been 15 below zero wind chills,” she said. “They paid their own way to come back to Iowa to campaign for John Edwards.”

Catherine Wright, a supporter from Los Angeles, said she had been in Iowa for six weeks door knocking, precinct walking and phone banking. She had personally endorsed him since 2003.

“I’m thrilled to be here because I can’t imagine a better candidate,” she said. “[If Edwards loses] I’ll be grieving.”

Edwards, made his final rounds in Iowa earlier Thursday before the caucuses and greeted supporters and volunteers at a campaign headquarters in Cedar Rapids.

His wife, Elizabeth, was also with him to urge volunteers to get people to caucus because a “changing dynamic” in Iowa could turn the tide, helping Edwards.

“I feel stronger that all voters are going to turn out,” she said. “What it means is not a victory for Edwards, but a victory for the country.”

She also said the national news media has not given equal play to the campaign but would have been forced to if Edwards won in Iowa.

“You know the national press – bless your hearts all of you out there – have not been paying attention a lot to this campaign,” she said. “But they’ll pay attention when the voters of Iowa tell them to.”

John then gave a brief talk to the gathering of his supporters, staff and volunteers, letting them know their work has been appreciated but the real test was who came to the caucus.

“I know how hard you’ve worked; you know what is at stake. It is a cause, a movement. It is not about me,” he said. “Now reach out to any of those caucus-goers whose candidates are nonviable and make sure they end up in the Edwards camp. All of the information indicates they are very attractive to us.”

John Edwards, who was born June 10, 1953, in Seneca, S.C., and grew up in Robbins, N.C. has said in many speeches that he grew up in poverty, was the first person in his family to go to college. He attended North Carolina State University and graduated with high honors in 1974. He then attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and earned a law degree with honors in 1977.

Edwards practiced law for 20 years, representing families and children against insurance industries. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1998, where he began serving on several committees, including the Small Business Committee and the Select Committee on Intelligence.

After the 2004 Democratic primaries, Edwards became the running mate of Sen. John Kerry. After Kerry’s defeat in to President Bush, Edwards declared his presidential candidacy on Dec. 27, 2006.