Presidential Hopefuls Parade in N.H.
By ALEX ORTOLANI
The Associated Press
Friday, July 4, 2003; 4:56 PM
AMHERST, N.H. - While people across the country celebrated Fourth of July with barbecues, baseball games and parades, residents of the first-in-the-nation primary state sized up possible presidents.
Four presidential hopefuls made their pitch to voters while marching with kids on bikes, Revolutionary War re-enactors, scouts, unicyclists and bands. New Hampshire's primary is scheduled for Jan. 27, 2004.
Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry and former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean had the most supporters - and noisemakers - while marching in Amherst and then Merrimack, both within 15 miles of the Massachusetts state line. Kerry has ranked first in New Hampshire's latest polls and Dean has come in second.
Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman and Florida Sen. Bob Graham had fewer supporters present, but both shook as many hands and kissed as many babies as the regional candidates.
"Kerry's just got what it takes," said John Knowles, a military veteran who cut short a vacation in the Berkshires to support the candidate. "He has that certain stature, and seems the only candidate - including Bush - who cuts a presidential figure."
As Kerry patted shoulders and talked to people in the crowd in Amherst, he took a moment to shake hands with a man dressed as George Washington.
When asked if he could live up to the first president's standards, Kerry said he can live up to the modern standard.
"We need to use them (America's forefathers) as an inspiration and an example, especially on a day like today," Kerry said.
Dean, a doctor, was flanked by supporters wearing lab coats and handing out tongue depressors stamped with the candidate's web site.
Dean recently came out on top in the first online primary, MoveOn.org, and was helped into the top spot for second quarter financial earnings with $3 million raised over the Internet in the last month.
"I wish I could say we were smart and planned it, but I was surprised," Dean said of the Internet earnings. "Bush will get a lot of $2,000 checks and we'll have many more $100 checks and that is what's going to be important."
Graham said Dean's Internet success would change other campaigns' approaches.
"I've congratulated him on his second quarter (financial earnings)," Graham said. "His success using the Internet has forced the rest of us to relook at our campaigns."
Although Graham ranks low in New Hampshire polls, he lines up with Dean and behind Lieberman and Kerry in a national CNN-Gallup poll. He has managed to win some converts in the state.
"I didn't know much about him ... but he won me over in a meeting he held in Manchester," said Camille Dionne, a retired electrical engineer. "I don't expect him to win in New Hampshire, but ... I could see him picking up the southern states and doing well nationally."
Lieberman's ability to endure the hot sun in Merrimack won him at least one supporter.
"I yelled at every one of them to come over here, but Lieberman was the only one. The rest of them all stayed (on the shady side of the street)," said Terry Stephens of Merrimack.
But not everyone at the parades were looking for possible presidents.
"It's much too early to see all of the candidates," said Kathy Murphy of Merrimack. "It's a parade, but it seems much more like a political meeting."
Dom Giovinazzo of Nashua said candidates wouldn't win his vote by marching.
"I don't think too many people come to the parade to see the presidential candidates, they come to enjoy the music, the bands," he said.
But some New Hampshire locals still take pride in the state's political history.
"I think it's great," said Pat Murphy, watching the parade in Merrimack with her daughter. "When they (her kids) were 18 I took them to meet all the candidates. It's not in every state you can do that."
The candidates may not have left an impression on everyone, but they left their mark on Cheryl Pearsall of Merrimack. Her blouse was covered with presidential stickers.
"I haven't made up my mind yet," she said, "so we're going to go back and review and see who had the best stickers."
Associated Press Writer David Tirrell-Wysocki contributed to this story.
URL:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9997-2003Jul4.html
© 2003 The Associated Press |
