OMG OMG!!! I just shook hands with John Kerry!!!

[rockymountaindem]

!!!!!!!!

For those of you who don't know, John Kerry is my favorite politician (sorry Barack ;) ) This was so unbelievable. Please indulge me a bit...

So here I am at the beginning of a new school year back at grad school in Boston. Through my college Dem. organization, I did an hour and a half of phone banking for Kerry in the primary campaign just last weekend. Not that many people were involved (since the race was not very competitive), so people were actually happy to see me. I mean, I thought that here in solidly Democratic Mass. the Democrats would be so inundated with volunteers nobody would notice. Anyway, the staff told me to come to the poll-closing party tonight. So, I went down there not expecting much as they said that Kerry might be in Washington.

The first thing I saw when I walked through the door was Kerry being interviewed by a bunch of TV people. I hooked up with my contact from school, and she told me I should go up and meet him. She and her friend were too nervous, apparently. Anyway, contrary to my expectations there were only about 100 people in the room including media. The Senator was very accessible. After waiting around awhile while he worked his way through a bunch of other folks his staffer turned to me and told me Kerry would be with me in a minute. So you can imagine the excitement was building. Then he had to go take a call, and I thought my chance was gone :( After he came back he ran into an old friend and again I was like "well, you tried". Then finally the staffer had him turn toward me and introduced me by name. I had already given this guy my friend's camera, so I told Sen. Kerry, "I'm sorry, but I was six days too young to vote for you in 2004". He laughed and then the staffer cut him off and said "let's get that picture".

Let me tell you, this one is going on the wall. It's absolutely fantastic.

After that, I shook his hand again and said, "you're my favorite Senator. Let me tell you, this scene just makes the whole month for me." He was very, very nice. He thanked me for my help and congratulations, patted me on the shoulder and then moved on.

That, combined with the open bar and a bunch of cool Dems. to talk with made for a very, very cool night. I just had to share.

[Aristus]

1. Yeah, he's terrific. I met him at a local rally in support of Obama.

He gave a rousing speech motivating us to get out the vote. A local precinct captain who had worked his ass off to get Kerry elected in 2004 (Washington went for Kerry, at least) stood up to express his admiration, and asked if he could shake Kerry's hand. Senator Kerry said: "I don't want to shake your hand; You come up here and give me a hug!" And he did. Kerry offered his heart-felt thanks to the precinct captain for all of his hard work. It was a very moving moment.

Kerry took a lot of heat from a lot of Dems for his "loss" in 2004. But he has my admiration. :patriot:

[elshiva]

2. I LOVE JOHN KERRY!

:loveya: :yourock:

:) :hug:

[A-Long-Little-Doggie]

3. I shook Sen. Kerry's hand at the North Station T stop.

He was with Mayor Menino. When I shook his hand I asked him to PLEASE run for President! (this was in 2003). He was really nice and didn't make it feel like he was just going through the motions.

I also shook Sen. Kennedy's hand when I was in high school. I will never forget that, either!

And thanks for working for his re-election!

:yourock: