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."
Just setting it up for a replay of election 2000 imho.
' hurricane kerry.....full of hot air..'
That's exactly what I thought. If he's anywhere in my area of Fla, signs will read....'no more hot wind needed' or 'another ill wind blows'.
keep us informed bump
....O'Reilly doesn't print letters that nail him.....
Agree. I've emailed him quite a few times. But, I know they won't get on air. I started to track the number of times he criticizes Bush vs the times he criticizes Kerry. He's quick to jump on Bush....Bush should do this or that..why hasn't Bush done this or that but I can't recall him actually criticizing Kerry. At the end of his interview with John O'Neill, O'Reilly chalked up Kerry's 1971 comments to his being 'young and irresponsible'. I asked O'Reilly if he's willing to give Kerry a free pass cause he was 'young and irresponsible' why he doesn't use this logic for Ludicris.
HA!HA!..LOL! :))
I Will Keep Our Enemies Guessing, Too
Projecting American Strength Through Intricately Complex Nuance
The Thinking Man's Self-Confessed War Criminal
Vote For Me or My Running Mate Will Sue
Those Atrocity Stories? Dude, I Was Just Sh**ting You
I Will Do For You the Many Wonderous Things I Have Done For Massachusetts
Fear Not, America, I Have Deigned to Lead You
I Will Never Recuse My UN Ambassador from the Vote to Ask for a Permission Slip to Defend This Country
The Next Time America is Attacked, I Promise To Open Up a Carafe of Whupass
Post-Emptive Leadership For A Safer World
I Have Three Words For George Bush -- Bring It On
I Have Five More Words For George Bush -- Call Off Your On-Bringers
Restoring America's Seat At The Global Popular Table
Come Home Again, America... No Wait, Stay There Again
There Once Was A Man From Nantucket, If You Get My Drift
Shaggin' Billionaire Bag Ladies So You Don't Have To
More ideas on this thread http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1219792/posts
lol.
Hey, Joe -- for your FL ping list.
OK, JAX FReepers, Let's get ready to RUMBLE!! Kerry alert Tuesday!
OK, JAX FReepers, Let's get ready to RUMBLE!! Kerry alert Tuesday!
Any freepers in Orlando?? You get to freep them both at once Tuesday night!
Woohoo! Orlando Freeper here....anyone else plan to go?
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How much more destruction can they take?
His visit to Punta Gorda WAS a campaign appearance, just like it was in Viet Nam, and at President Reagan's funeral.
He does NOTHING without the cameras rolling.
cyn, I haven't seen you in so long! How are you and the girls?
I didn't know that there was anything left to blitz.
Maybe kerry can "run naked" in Florida. That'll get their attention -- or maybe not.
Ooh, look Mommy, the bunny man is here!
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