Posted on 09/18/2004 7:32:30 PM PDT by tellw
ORLANDO, Fla. - (KRT) - Democrat John Kerry's presidential campaign, blown off course in Florida by three hurricanes, plans to resume efforts to win the crucial battleground state next week with a blitz of five key cities.
Kerry or his running mate, John Edwards, plans events in Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Miami and West Palm Beach, the campaign said Friday. Details will be released Saturday.
The resumption comes at a crucial moment for the Kerry campaign, locked in a battle with President Bush for the White House.
In recent weeks, Bush has moved into a lead in some national polls, though the dozen or so battleground states - which will decide the presidency - remain statistical tossups.
For Kerry, it will be his first campaign trip to Florida since July 26, when he appeared at a forum in Cape Canaveral, on his way to Boston to accept the Democratic nomination.
He also visited Punta Gorda shortly after Hurricane Charley decimated the Gulf Coast town, but he made no campaign appearances.
In campaign terms, Kerry's nearly two-month hiatus may seem like a lifetime in a state long targeted as the linchpin in this fall's presidential race.
But Democrats say hurricanes here are changing the political calculus.
"We think the race here essentially has been frozen for several weeks," said Matt Miller, a Kerry campaign spokesman. "But, obviously, we want to be in Florida as much as possible between now and November."
Bush, though, has been active. He is scheduled to tour the hurricane-ravaged Pensacola area Sunday, along with surveying damage left by Hurricane Ivan in neighboring Alabama.
Bush's visit to Florida, which he carried by 537 votes four years ago, will be his 28th trip to the state since he took office.
He also made trips after Hurricane Charley, presenting $2 billion in federal aid, and after Hurricane Frances, for which he has requested an additional $3.1 billion.
The Kerry-Edwards events set for next week were still being finalized Friday.
"It'll be good for him to come here," said Doug Head, Orange County Democratic chairman. "This town is still a little torn up from Hurricane Charley. People have been pretty distracted for the past month."
Kerry had intended to be in Florida, but the triple hit from hurricanes forced those plans to change. He canceled a couple of Florida appearances in deference to the cleanup efforts, and Edwards also canceled an appearance in Fort Myers last month when Charley loomed.
An independent group helping Democratic voter efforts also canceled a Miami Beach fund-raiser with entertainer Bette Midler because of that storm.
"People's attention has clearly been on other things," said Matthew Corrigan, a University of North Florida political scientist. "And that's usually not good for a challenger who needs their focus to make his case."
The horror of a hurricane could not be complete without seeing Lurch touring the destruction.
I think Doug Head succeeded his brother Dick in running the local DNC.
Oh! That's right - Kerry DID pick a VP candidate. Kerry just won't let him come out and play.
Hang on Floridians....Hurricane sKerry is coming and he's full of hot air!
This looks like another phoney Dan Rather story. Look at the author. He's been dead for years.
He went water skiing after the first one hit. He needed a nice vacation. How sweet.
Stock up on truth, logic, facts, common sense. Home Depot and Wal-Mart have those if you get there fast. CBS is fresh out, and has been for thirty years at least. Everybody SAYS they have such things, but most are either lying through their teeth, or simply wouldn't recognize such products smack dab in front of them.
Congressman Billybob
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A_R
"[Bush] also made trips after Hurricane Charley, presenting $2 billion in federal aid, and after Hurricane Frances, for which he has requested an additional $3.1 billion."
Meanwhile, John and Teh-RAY-za sent a get well soon card and recommendations that the kids go naked.
LOL!!!!
What a shame F'n didn't go to Florida, sooner: he's so ugly, he could snag three hurricanes.
I don't know how often you email Oreilly but he does not print letters that nail him. He's allergic to anything of substance that takes issue with his program. In some ways he reminds me of a liberal. Unable to apologize for making a mistake and placing blame somewhere else.
Ketchup?
I don't do ballgames unless it's the series and the Yankees are playing. I'm always on FR. I've got my computer set up in my living room, so I can sit in my lounge chair, view my computer and hear the TV, all at the same time. What can I say, I'm a lazy retiree.
I'm glad I saw this! I was about to take down my hurricane shutters!
Great note to O'Reilly!! How could Mr. allknowing not know that Kerry hadn't given a press conference in over 30 days?
Kerry is coming to Florida.
Oh well....JFK will be yet another blast of hot air.
You'll be greeted by a SUPER FREEP!
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