MILWAUKEE -- Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards said he'll raise the minimum wage if elected.

Edwards (pictured, right) also said he'll make sure every child has health care and provide bonuses for teachers who work in less-affluent areas.

The North Carolina senator made those promises before a crowd of about 200 people at the Milwaukee Area Technical College Monday. He also wants equal pay for equal work.

"We still live in a country where in big parts of America women are being paid 75 cents on the dollar for doing the same work men are doing. If we believed in equality, we would treat women with the respect that they're entitled to and pay them the same way we pay men for doing the same work," Edwards said.

He's the first Democratic candidate to visit Wisconsin as part of Gov. Jim Doyle's presidential forum.

Earlier this month, Doyle invited the Democrats running for president to a series of town hall-style meetings.

Wisconsin has become a hotbed for presidential candidates since moving its primary up seven weeks to Feb. 17.

Edwards spoke on a variety of issues, including foreign trade, worker issues, college funding and corporate taxes.

The senator started his day in Iowa and was going to New Hampshire after leaving Milwaukee.