The police estimate released to the Press for the Kerry rally crowd was 5000. Kerry mentioned 20,000 from the stage...he was just exaggerating (because his estimate will probably get play in the mainstream press...the local news outlets were more objective). Bush had a capacity 4000 at the Fieldhouse (preferring an indoor, weather-proof venue). Kerry was 2 hours ahead of a thunderstorm that would have washed out his whole outdoor event. Bush filled the Fieldhouse with 4000, but could have brought in well over that figure. While the city of Grand Rapids leans slightly Democratic (the current mayor and the last mayor, John Logie, and both Kerry supporters), the suburban areas are nearly 2-1 Republican. Ottawa County, just west of Grand Rapids is one of the most Republican Counties in the U.S....consistently voting GOP by a greater than 70-30 margin. Kerry's people have been very active around Grand Rapids...passing out flyers...going door-to-door. Conservatives need to be active and outspoken.
Thanks for the update Strato. Yeah It just shows you what kind of a lunatic liar Kerry and I guess all Democratic Presidential candidates are. Of course if you are lying to democrats well IS that a lie?
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We've turned the corner and were not turning back.
The number of attendees at any given political event always seems to be in contention (for obvious reasons). I believe that there were at least 10,000 people at the Kerry rally; Grand Rapids leans very democrat - and the unions were really rattling cages to turn out their members (even those from out-of-town). Though it's only anecdotal, I stood in line with many union folks.
The spokesperson for the city estimated the crowd at 9,000-10,000:
http://www.thehollandsentinel.net/stories/080304/loc_080304001.shtml
The Grand Rapids Free Press estimated the crowd for the Kerry Rally to be 10,000:
The State News has 20,000:
http://www.statenews.com/article.phtml?pk=24822
Wood TV has pictures of the event showing how packed Calder Plaza was:
http://www.woodtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=2110785&nav=0RcePQ78
If Chief Dolan counted only 5,000 - it must have been during Teresa Heinz Kerry's rambling, long-winded speech when everybody went to go get a hot dog and lemonade.