Kerry campaign thinking big about R.I. win

[Feanorcurufinwe]

Rhode Island's presidential primary elects just 13 delegates to the Democratic National Convention on March 2, a minute drop in the bucket of the 1,151 delegates to be elected that day in states stretching from New England to the Pacific Ocean. But Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry's campaign is looking to its Democratic Rhode Island neighbors to give him his biggest percentage win on a day when the media and political professionals will be looking to the larger prizes of New York, Ohio and California.

About 120 Kerry supporters thronged Patrick's Pub on Smith Street last night for a campaign kickoff attended by well-known state Democrats and the young and unknown who perform much of the scut work of any campaign. Students from Kerry organizations at Providence College, Brown University and Bryant College mingled with such longtime Kerry backers as former Providence Mayor Joseph R. Paolino Jr., Lt. Gov. Charles Fogarty and former Lt. Gov. Richard Licht.

A recent Brown University survey showed Kerry with an overwhelming lead in Rhode Island among the Democratic presidential aspirants left in the field and with a comfortable lead of more than 20 points over President Bush in a general-election matchup. "We aren't taking anything for granted," said Licht, who also acknowledged that Kerry's Rhode Island campaign may have to make do with few of the trappings of a national presidential campaign.

<snip>

"I just don't think you can let Bush win again," she said. "As a woman, it makes me worry that George Bush is against the right to choose." "I'm only 20 and I can't believe that this (abortion rights) can be taken from women," said Goldberg. Other students praised the environmental record of Kerry, who has been in the Senate for 19 years and has been endorsed by the League of Conservation voters. "I'm a big environmental person," said Kevin Patterson, a Brown graduate student in classics. "I checked it out at the start of the camapign and he had the most impressive environmental record."
http://www.projo.com/news/content/projo_20040218_kerry18.23bcf2.html

[KittyWampus]

1. Edwards Didn't Get On The Ballot In RI

so Kerry would obviously get a big turnout.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

2. Really? Source?

[PROGRESSIVE1]

3. Kerry, Kerry, Kerry, Kerry, Kerry, Kerry, Kerry, Kerry, Kerry.......

Kerry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Nicholas_J]

8. He finally managed

TO get the 1000 sigtnature necessary to get on the ballot. DOes not bode well for Edwards though that it took so long to find 1000 people to sign on.

[AP]

4. I believe they won their appeal.

Which is why you haven't heard about it.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

6. Appeal?

[Paulie]

5. Kucinich IS on the ballot

Might be a big turnout for Dennis. :P

[Nicholas_J]

7. Poll in RI give Kerry 70 percent of the vote

And in nearby Connecticut 67 percent:


President, CT Dem Primary
2/16/2004

Kerry 67%

Dean 12%

Edwards 12%

Other 6%

Undecided 3%

Data Collected
2/13/04 - 2/15/04

Geography
State of Connecticut

Sample Population
361 Certain Voters

Margin of Error
5.0%

Client
WABC-TV New York

President, RI Dem Primary
2/12/2004

Kerry 70%

Edwards 11%

Dean 10%

Other 7%

Undecided 2%

Data Collected
2/11/04

Geography
State of Rhode Island

Sample Population
388 Likely Voters

Margin of Error
4.6%

Client
WLNE-TV Providence


WLNE-TV Providence


ANd in the Super Tuesday States Kerry is nearing 60 percent in all polls for those states, in which the kind of voters came out for Edwards are not allowed to vote (Democrat Only Primaries)


President, CA Dem Primary
2/17/2004

Kerry 59%

Dean 14%

Edwards 14%

Other 10%

Undecided 3%

Data Collected
2/14/04 - 2/16/04

Geography
State of California

Sample Population
665 Certain Voters

Margin of Error
3.8%

Client
KABC-TV Los Angeles


KPIX-TV San Francisco

KXTV-TV Sacramento

KGTV-TV San Diego

Then in the primaries a week after super tuesday, Florida in Particular, Kerry is far ahead, and Florida's Democratic Party is largely Black.


President, FL Dem Primary
2/17/2004

Kerry 67%

Edwards 16%

Sharpton 4%

Dean 3%

Other/Undecided 10%

Data Collected
2/14/04 - 2/16/04

Geography
State of Florida

Sample Population
389 Certain Voters

Margin of Error
4.8%

Client
WFLA-TV Tampa


WKMG-TV Orlando

WPTV-TV Palm Beach

WTLV-TV Jacksonville


WKRG-TV Mobile

http://www.surveyusa.com/currentelectionpolls.html