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Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards got the catbird seat Wednesday in talking to union activists rallying in Washington, a position they say he earned by working for greater organizing rights for unions. Edwards was the featured speaker at the legislative conference of the International Association of Machinists, which boasts more than 700,000 active and retired members in transportation, aerospace, manufacturing, shipbuilding and electronic industries. The IAMAE will hear from other Democratic candidates -- Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden and Dennis Kucinich -- at a rally on the National Mall on Thursday. Edwards was treated like a favorite son, however, getting standing ovations every few minutes during his speech.