On July 6 , Kerry selected Edwards as his running mate , shortly before the 2004 Democratic National Convention was held later that month in Boston . Days before Kerry announced Edwards as his running mate , Kerry gave a short list of three candidates : Sen. John Edwards , Rep. Dick Gephardt , and Gov. Tom Vilsack . Heading into the convention , the Kerry/Edwards ticket unveiled its new slogan : a promise to make America " stronger at home and more respected in the world . " Kerry made his Vietnam War experience the convention 's prominent theme . In accepting the nomination , he began his speech with , " I 'm John Kerry and I 'm reporting for duty . " He later delivered what may have been the speech 's most memorable line when he said , " the future does n't belong to fear , it belongs to freedom " , a quote that later appeared in a Kerry/Edwards television advertisement
2004 Democratic National Convention
2004 Democratic National Convention
2004 United States presidential election