Edwards is indeed a moderate Dem...Kerry is far more liberal. Idaho, Utah & Hawaii caucuses results tonight:
Joe Jaszewski / The Idaho Statesman
Teresa Heinz Kerry, wife of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry has had a home in Ketchum since 1966, but she grew up in Mozambique.
Rocky Barker
The Idaho Statesman
Democrats will meet in caucuses in 40 of the 44 counties tonight to divide up 18 of the state´s 23 delegates between the candidates for the Democratic nomination for president.
Kerry´s main competitor, John Edwards, dropped out of an appearance Saturday at the annual Frank Church Dinner so he could focus on Midwest states that vote next week. His campaign has not been prominent around Idaho.
“We have a strong base of supporters throughout the state,” said Kim Rubey, an Edwards national campaign spokeswoman. “We are focusing our efforts on the grass roots, building from the ground up.”
Dennis Kucinich, a former Cleveland mayor and Ohio congressman, has a core of support in the state, as does Howard Dean, who suspended but did not end his campaign. Both are expected to pick up some support tonight. Al Sharpton has had no visible campaign in the state.
Teresa Heinz Kerry spoke to supporters Sunday night at the home of Skip and Esther Oppenheimer. Kerry has spent all but two Christmases in Idaho since first coming here in 1966 with her late husband, Republican Sen. John Heinz of Pennsylvania. Heinz died in a plane crash in 1991.
Beyond her Idaho ties, Heinz Kerry talked about how she viewed the United States while growing up in Mozambique. She lived there during a dictatorship and said she saw her father vote for the first time when he was 71.
Terrorism, Heinz Kerry said, is going to be defeated by the “can-do spirit” and “happy faces of Peace Corps volunteers” and by better intelligence and support of other countries.
In a press conference, she criticized the “No Child Left Behind Act” as an unfunded mandate. The act sets standards for schools and cuts federal funding if student tests show they aren´t meeting them.
Boise lawyer Bill Mauk is leading Edwards campaign effort in Idaho. Mauk expects a good turnout of Edwards voters.
“Even in Idaho, where Kerry has the obvious advantage, there is a lot of enthusiasm for the fresh face and new ideas of John Edwards,” Mauk said.
Caucuses begin at 7:30 sharp, and people arriving late will be turned away. Four counties — Camas, Clark, Franklin and Oneida — were not holding caucuses.
To offer story ideas or comments, contact Rocky Barker
rbarker@idahostatesman.com or 377-6484
Edition Date: 02-24-2004 |
