Tentative Plans for John Kerry to Visit Upper Ohio Valley (W.Va.) on April 23 - freep op

wtov | 4/6/04

[mountaineer]

Today's Wheeling newspaper reports:

Wheeling To Host Kerry

Democratic presidential candidate, U.S. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., is scheduled to make a campaign stop in Wheeling on Monday.

Kerry campaign spokeswoman Laura Capps, who works in Kerry's Washington, D.C. campaign headquarters, said the details of the trip had not been finalized as of 11 a.m. today. Capps said she expects them to be made available to the public later today.

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Wheeling? If he wanted to seize on an issue, shouldn't he have chosen Weirton? Hey, no one said he knew anything. I couldn't find anything on the Kerry website about this. Let's all keep on top of this.

[mountaineer]

WTOV reports:

Follansbee, WV -- Senator John Kerry was supposed to visit a 'meet the candidates' night in Follansbee Friday, April 23rd but because of scheduling conflicts he has decided to make a stop in Wheeling on Monday, April 25th instead.

The Brooke County Democratic Party had been working on sealing a deal with Senator Kerry's campaign staff to visit Brooke County.


Despite months of preparation, Brooke County Democratic Party Chair, John Martino, was notified of the change in the senators' plans.

He tells me while he feels a little slighted he won't make it to Follansbee he's excited Kerry will still be visiting the northern panhandle.

Martino says Kerry needs to see the state of the Ohio Valley and the effects the steel industry is having on the economy.

And you can bet the economy and steel are going to be a topic of conversation when Kerry comes to wheeling.

Senator Kerry will be looking to convince voters in the northern panhandle, hoping for the same results as Bill Clinton when he campaigned in the friendly city prior to his first term.

The Kerry campaign is still working out the times and locations of the event.

The details are still up in the air.

[mountaineer]

WTRF reports:

Kerry To Visit Wheeling on Monday.


U.S. Senator John Kerry is making plans to come to the Ohio Valley. Sources very close to Democratic Presidential candidate John Kerry confirm for me that the Senator is coming to the mountain state for a second visit.
Aides to Kerry say he will be in Wheeling on Monday April 26th. Details of his visit will be released to 7News later this evening. While Kerry will likely discuss a number of issues...

We're told that he will primarialy focus on the Ohio Valley's steel industry. Kerry and others have been critical of the Bush Administrations handling of the steel dumping crisis. It's likely Kerry could get the endorsement of the Independent Steelworkers Union. They say they haven't made an endorsement yet...but are considering throwing their support behind him.

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Daily Mail reports:

.... But the Northern Panhandle vote is already becoming prized territory. Sen. John Kerry, the presumptive Democratic nominee, will visit Wheeling on Monday to talk with steelworkers about jobs, the state Democratic Party chairman said.
http://www.dailymail.com/news/News/2004042143/

[sonsofliberty2000]

A saying I've been hearing recently is: As Wheeling goes, so goes the Ohio Valley. In any case if he comes this way what shall we do?

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Patriot Paradox

[mountaineer]

Once I find out the details, I plan to do what I've done on previous freeps, namely, just show up with my signs at the closest, most public spot wherever Kerry appears.

[mountaineer]

From today's News-Register: Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry is scheduled to be in Wheeling at 10:30 a.m. Monday to kick off his "Jobs First" tour, part of a campaign bus tour of four election battleground states. Ohio County Democratic Executive Committee Chairman Shawn Pennybacker said Kerry will stop at Wheeling Park's White Palace for the event. The general public is invited to attend the event, but a ticket will be needed for admission. Details of how and where tickets can be obtained are being worked on, Pennybacker said late this morning, and should be finalized sometime today.

[MadelineZapeezda]

Monday looks good to me...where do we meet? I thought about placing an a poster on the state line "Now entering Bush country"....do you think they will drive that way from Pitts to Wheeling? Should we get tickets and pretend to be rats to get the chance at a televised FReep?

[mountaineer]

I'm just going to mosey down to Wheeling an hour or so in advance of the event, so if you see a red Escape in the White Palace parking lot, I'm there already (I may drop in at my office downtown beforehand). I don't imagine we'll have any security problems, based on my experiences with Al Gore in Pittsburgh in 2000, and as the park is public property, they shouldn't try to force us to leave.

[mountaineer]

According to today's News-Register:

WHEELING - Tickets will be available from 1-4 p.m. today for area residents interested in seeing Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry during his stop Monday morning in Wheeling.

According to Shawn Pennybacker, chairman of the Ohio County Democratic Executive Committee, the tickets can be picked up today at Wheeling Park's White Palace, where Kerry is scheduled to appear at 10:30 a.m. Monday.
The event is free and open to the general public but the tickets will be distributed on a first come, first served basis, he said.

Only a limited number of tickets are available, Pennybacker said, noting that demand will most likely exceed the supply.

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This is hilarious. First we heard it was "invitation only." Now they're so desperate for attendees, they're opening it up to anyone who goes to the Park today for tickets. This part is curious, though. I can't imagine why any business owner would be so enthused over Effin:

>>> Some Elm Grove business owners have tentative plans to stand along National Road to show their support and give Kerry a send-off as his motorcade proceeds to its next stop on the tour.

http://news-register.net/news/story/0425202004_new04.asp

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In any event, I will be there early - probably by 9 a.m., just to make sure I can park and get in. I have about 35 flyers with Bob Ney's statement on why Kerry's bad for the Valley, and two or three signs. I also plan to have my flip-flops at the ready.

[sonsofliberty2000]

That's about when I'll get there, mainly to get to know where to go and what to do. Wouldn't it be great to get tickets and actual see if they get to ask him questions, and even ask Kerry a serious question on something, such as who the foreign leaders were or such?

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Patriot Paradox

[MadelineZapeezda]

M, do you plan on going into the park? If you do can you pick me up a ticket as well? Where do I park for this and can we meet up somewhere? email me, thanks,mz

[mountaineer]

I fully intend to stand with my signs as near the entrance - the main door - to the White Palace as possible. If hassled, we can move to the park entrance. They're handing out the tickets right now, I suppose, but I can't make it to Wheeling today. I'd rather "enlighten" the attendees than have to listen to Kerry's droning, anyway.

Anyway, I'll be at the park's parking lot by 9 a.m. or so, driving a red Escape. There may be some dimbulb Dems who show up early to get a good seat, so I want to be there to show off my flip-flops and waffle sign!