RENO, Nev. (AP) - Former Sen. John Edwards said Sunday the same characteristics that make him the strongest Democratic presidential candidate in the South also make him the most competitive candidate from his party in the West.

Edwards, who attended a fundraiser Sunday in Reno, said his rural roots and seasoning in a national campaign set him apart from his chief rivals, Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois. He was raised in Robbins, N.C.

"Because I grew up in a rural area, I understand a lot of the sort of independent spirit that people in the West have," Edwards told The Associated Press. "I saw the same things where I grew up. I have a natural connection with a lot of people in the West the way I grew up."

Earlier this month, Edward said he's the strongest general election candidate in the Democratic field because he's won in the South and other major candidates have not been tested there.

The stop was the 11th the former North Carolina senator has made to Nevada since he was John Kerry's running mate in 2004, including five times since announcing his candidacy for president in December.

The fundraiser at the home of attorney Bill Jeanney originally had been scheduled for March 24, two days after Edwards announced that breast cancer had spread to the bones of his wife, Elizabeth. Edwards lagged behind Clinton and Obama in raising campaign cash in Nevada in the first three months of the year, campaign finance records show.

Edwards said Western issues such as water, energy and public land management have been overshadowed so far by national issues such as the war in Iraq, global warming and health care.

"It's hard for regional issues to get heard over the loudness of those issues right now," he said, adding Western issues eventually would be discussed by candidates.

Edwards said he thinks his chances are good in Nevada's Jan. 19 caucus _ the No. 2 spot between Iowa and New Hampshire.

He dismissed a March 11 poll conducted for the Reno Gazette-Journal _ the latest available _ that found Clinton favored by 32 percent of Nevada Democrats surveyed compared with Obama's 20 percent and Edwards' 11 percent.

"This race will change and there will be ups and downs many times before the Nevada caucus takes place," he said. "I intend to be out here and to campaign hard here. I've been a strong believer in unions and the right to organize, and I think that group of voters will play a significant role" because of union-strong Las Vegas.

"The Nevada caucus is going to be crucial. It's hard to see it being much more important," he added.

Edwards was scheduled to make a campaign stop Monday in Las Vegas.