VolcanoJen's Excellent Kerry-Edwards Rally Adventure! (I met Teresa!!)

VolcanoJen

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Thu Jul-08-04 08:01 AM
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VolcanoJen's Excellent Kerry-Edwards Rally Adventure! (I met Teresa!!)

Hello, DUers!

Yesterday, I attended the Kerry-Edwards rally in Dayton, Ohio with my mother, fellow DUer Kukesa. This is my lengthy account, but it was such a wonderful, historic day that I hope I can help interested DUers feel as though they were right there with us!

Mom is active in the Dayton Kerry campaign, and secured us spots as official volunteers at the event. Although the Senators weren't scheduled to appear until 4:30, volunteers were to be at the event by noon. We arrived at the staging area, which was in downtown Dayton on the Miami River, in a beautiful public space known as the Riverscape Metropark. Mom's job was selling Kerry-Edwards shirts, and mine was as a ticket-checker. The Kerry staff was excellent, warm, and appreciative. We received instructions, lanyards to identify us as official volunteers, and some sandwiches for lunch (they ran out by the time we made it through the line, so we settled on a shared glazed donut!) We were then told to leave the area while Secret Service conducted their final security sweep; we lined up at the metal detectors and waited to be cleared.

Security was intense, and impressive. Four metal detectors and tables were set up, manned by the Secret Service Uniformed Division (you know, the same guys who questioned Michael Moore outside the Saudi Embassy!). I counted at least 12 undercover (the guys in suits!) Secret Service agents all around the event. These guys were all business, very professional, and never took their focus off their surroundings. There were also two helicopters which circled overhead, and agents on the roofs of downtown buildings near the event. I definitely felt safe and secure, and I'm sure Kerry and Edwards did too! There's something very reassuring about having these guys around everywhere!

Crowds started packing into Riverscape at 1:00, when the gates were opened. I stood just inside the gates, directing rally-goers to their areas (there were different colored tickets which allowed you access to four different gated areas). People were fired up, happy, smiling. Homemade shirts were in abundance. Patrons were not allowed to bring their own signs (it's a common Repub tactic to bring a homemade sign which really conceals a pro-Bush sign underneath). Our wonderful teenage volunteers ran through the crowd as "Kerry-Edwards Cheerleaders," waving signs, exciting the crowd and starting the various "Kerry! Kerry!" chants that would continue throughout the afternoon.

We also had some big, tough-guy volunteers designated as Marshalls. Their job was to scan the entering crowd for pro-Bush shirts. There were a few of these characters, and they were denied admission into the close-in area by the Marshalls. Heh heh... the Kerry folks did set up a nice, uhh, "free speech" zone just outside the gates for these types, though. :D Eventually, an organized pro-Bush crowd showed up, about 50 of them, complete with banners, signs, and bullhorns. They parked themselves on an embankment outside the gates and taunted the crowd. They were humorous, and must have felt a bit overwhelmed by the gathering hoards of Kerry-Edwards fans! At one point, they chanted "FOUR MORE YEARS! FOUR MORE YEARS!" to which the cheerleaders and huge crowds responded "FOUR MORE MONTHS!! FOUR MORE MONTHS!!" They were completely drowned out, and pretty much gave up before Kerry and Edwards even hit the stage. :D

Before the main event, the crowd was warmed up by local officials, our Senate candidate, Eric Fingerhut (who gave an impressive stump speech!), and former Senator, astronaut and Ohio Hero, John Glenn. At about 4:40 pm, the Kerry and Edwards families came on stage and the crowd exploded as Tina Turner's "Simply the Best" blared over the loudspeakers. Teresa spoke first, followed by Elizabeth, John Kerry, and John Edwards.

Teresa and Elizabeth were so impressive. What gorgeous women they are... honestly, the candidates and their wives are even more beautiful in person! Teresa made a point of telling the crowd that although two men were running this time, it's only a matter of time before two women will run! Elizabeth seemed overwhelmed by the crowds. She was emotional, and thanked us for our support and love.

Kerry gave an excellent speech; I'll never understand why the media insists on calling him stiff, boring, yada yada yada. He used a handheld microphone, walked around the stage, and really got everyone fired up. When he introduced John Edwards, the crowd erupted again, with chants of "Edwards! Edwards!" As expected, he was a brilliant speaker. He talked about the optimism and hope that this ticket offers Americans, in stark contrast to the fear, pessimism and worry offered by the current Administration. After the speeches were over, a flurry of confetti and balloons were released, and "Johnny B. Goode" was played. Kerry and Edwards then worked the crowds, signing autographs, posing for photographs, and shaking hands. They remained for at least a half-hour after speaking to greet the crowds!

I couldn't get up front to meet the candidates, as I was busy taking down gates and helping people make their way to the exits. However, after the candidates were in their cars, my mom noticed a small crowd gathering over near the motorcade. She ran over, ran back and said "It's Teresa!!" I quickly jogged over to stand on the rope line, hoping just to say hello.

Teresa is so warm and enchanting. She slowly made her way through the line, shaking hands, signing autographs and smiling. When she came to my part of the line, the woman next to me asked her "How exactly are you going to pay for health care for every child?" Teresa stopped in her tracks, took the woman's hands and said, "Have you decided who you're going to vote for in November yet?" The woman said no, that she had too many unanswered questions. Teresa then explained, step-by-step, the measures that would be taken to ensure health care for children. She also explained that it's time to allow our doctors and nurses to care for their patients again. She explained that a big issue for her is putting an end to mandatory overtime for stressed-out, overworked nurses. The crowd began to get a little antsy as Teresa spoke to this woman, yelling for her attention. She put her finger up and said, "If you don't mind, I'm going to spend some time with this woman whose vote we have not won yet." :D :D :D Her press secretary urged her to leave, as they were beginning to run late, but Teresa would have none of it. When she finished with the woman, who walked away beaming and impressed, I finally had my chance to shake her hand. It's funny how when these moments finally arrive, you find yourself nervous and at a loss for words. All I could blurt out was "Teresa, I'm so glad you and John chose John and Elizabeth!" She smiled and said, "Everyone seems very happy about it!" She then signed my ticket, and I walked away on Cloud 9.

Damn, this woman is going to make an excellent First Lady, isn't she?

Well, that's about the end of my Excellent Adventure. Below are some great press photos from the event (I didn't take my camera in, as it would have been too difficult to lug it around while volunteering). While the campaign had hoped for 10,000 rally-goers, the Dayton Police estimated the crowd at 18,000!!!! Quite a successful event... although the Cincinnati Fox news affiliate reported a crowd of "only 5,000." Predictable, aren't they? :eyes:

I urge everyone to get involved with your local Kerry campaign! If you get a chance to attend one of these rallies in your hometown, take it a step further and offer to volunteer. It's so much fun, you'll meet wonderful, like-minded people, and you'll get some free stuff, too. :D

Thanks everyone, for taking the time to read about my wonderful day!!