Has anyone been to a John Kerry rally?

[clydefrand]

If you have, how long does it last? Kerry is scheduled to be in Norfolk, VA Tuesday morning at which times doors will open at 8 am. I'm trying to persuade a "disinterested" friend to join me and she wants to know how long it will last. She's interested in getting Kerry elected; just not participating in a rally. Neither of us knows what to expect. Suggestions for one willing and one not-so-willing????

[madmom]

1. Is this a free ticket event ? n/t

[clydefrand]

3. Yes, it is

You can print tickets online at www.johnkerry.com/norfolk

[madmom]

9. Online ticket is general admission.

Better to go to Dem. party headquarters and get the colored tickets.These are also free but will get you right up front anytime you get there.Thats if it is being done as in Dayton.

[earthside]

2. In Denver Friday

Kerry and Edwards kicked-off their 'road to the convention' with a rally in Denver on Friday.

It was terrible.

He was over an hour-and-a-half late. They put the press scaffold across the entire width of the site so TWO-THIRDS of the audience could not even see the stage, let alone the candidates and the families.

I was deeply involved with both Clinton campaigns ... Kerry makes Clinton look punctual.

Before I went to another rally, I'd check out the details, where it is, how comfortable you will be during the inevitable wait, how they are setting the event up.

I wouldn't take an undecided person if there was a chance things could go as wrong as they did in Denver ...

Better to be enthusiastic as you are now and watch the news coverage on televsion later -- than be deflated and bummed by a poorly planned rally.

[clydefrand]

4. She is definitely decided

She's a Dem all the way. She just isn't interested in political rallies. But thanks for the advice. I had already suspected he would be late after having heard all the coverage on his being late for other events.

[JI7]

6. Teresa's plane had mechanical problems

some others who attended this event had positive things to say about it. i guess it depends on whether people are into it enough to put up with things like delays , crowds etc.

most of these rallies aren't like the convention where it's very formal and plans take a long time. in addition the kerry events are open to the public on a first come basis without much control on who gets in. unless people want more controlled events these are just things they have to put up with at rallies. i know in north carolina those who were far back and at times had hard time hearing still had good things to say just because they are into that type of stuff and the enthusiasm from others was something they loved to see also.

[MaineDem]

5. Allow plenty of time

Doors open at 8 but do you know what time it's due to begin? I'd bet it's not until 10. Keep that in mind. It's probably an hour from beginning to end but it probably won't start for a few hours after 8.

Just an educated guess.

[onehandle]

10. That's pretty accurate from my experience.

I've been to two Kerry rally's and that's the time spread for his and most any large political rally.

Happened with the big dog and Gore as well.

It's a rock show.

[Selwynn]

7. I live in Idaho, so no.

I wish he would come here though. Right now, Idaho - bush's strongest state is at 55% support for Bush. That's down from almost 70% in 2000. Kerry's favorables are not good here, because this is traditionally just about the most conservative state in the union. But because Bush is so umpopular this year, I would Kerry would come and start speaking a message that might cause some people to think.

Maybe Idaho won't go blue this year, but if 55% that are disillusioned with Bush cast a protest vote for various write in candidates or splite their votes in some way, there's this miracle like teeny tiny change that maybe Kerry could take the state with some super small percentage of the vote.

Honestly that's not really why I want him to come. I want him to come to start persuading people to think differently for the future, plant the seeds for changing Idaho into a less conservative state. There is a huge influx of californians moving to Idaho - its possible that evnentually we could have a more balanced political spectrum here. I love it that Dean was in Boise - that rocked. I wish some more democratics and progressives would do that.

[NoodleBoy]

8. the one I went to in Phoenix...

started at 6 or something, but Kerry didn't show up until at least two hours later, but that was expected-- he hadn't even flown into the city at that point.

[otohara]

11. I Went To Denver

my feet still hurt from standing for so many hours in one position - too bad it got moved to The Filmore due to wacky July weather. 15,000 tickets were requested, only 3500+ got in.

Clinton set the bar too high...and Al Gore can get an audience going with his firey speeches - The Kerry camp lacks that enthusiasim - but that's who he is. At least they can speak with out saying terror, killers, duh, huh way too many times.

[Carolinian]

12. You should contact your local Democratic party with questions.

[SW FL Dem]

13. Expect to be there for 3-4 hours

because of the security. I went to one in Ft Lauderdale. The doors opened at 9 but Kerry and Edwards weren't scheduled to appear until 11:30. It took over two hours before we got into the building. The actually rally lasted maybe 45 minutes.