Kerry finally plays well in S.C. - The State

[Mass]

So much for Kerry does not connect with Southerners.

http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/local/15262695.htm

Kerry finally plays well in S.C.
By LEE BANDY
[e-mail]

When U.S. Sen. John Kerry announced he was coming to South Carolina to talk about health care and raise money for the state Democratic Party, one could almost hear the groans from Greenville to Charleston.

What’s that liberal Yankee doing down here? We showed him two years ago what we thought of him.

South Carolina voters preferred President Bush by a wide margin, 58 percent to 42 percent.

Skeptics said the Massachusetts Democrat would be lucky to draw a dozen or so people.

Kerry had the last laugh when he hit the state late last month. The reception also seems to show the could-be presidential candidate will treat the state differently than in 2004.

Overflow crowds greeted Kerry at a Charleston town hall meeting and a Democratic rally in West Columbia. Charleston Mayor Joe Riley introduced him at the town hall gathering.

Party officials say they were not prepared for the response.

Some 400 people jammed into the Woodmen of the World hall in West Columbia to hear Kerry. An estimated 250 were turned away, organizers said.
...

[fedupinBushcountry]

1. Wow

this is very good news.

[Island Blue]

2. Why did it take The State a month to write this story?

I kept checking their website right after the event, and even though they had a brief story about the morning event in Charleston, I never saw anything about the West Columbia event. Oh well, better late than never I suppose.

These quotes say it all:

"We ran out of food,” said Kathy Hensley, chairwoman of the Lexington County Democratic Party.

Hensley said she has not seen anything like the reception Kerry received in her 50 years around politics. “I was pleasantly surprised by the whole thing.”

The first rule of being a good Southern hostess is NEVER run out of food. (Therefore over preparation is a must.) The fact that they actually ran out of food is an excellent sign!

It sounds like Dick Harpootlian needs a little bit of an attitude adjustment, but he is the former SC Democratic chairman, so who really gives a flying f*@k what he thinks?

Overall, a very positive article!

[blm]

8. They needed to rub the southern 'strategist" bullshit from their eyes

first. That took some time.

[whometense]

3. Fantastic.

This is just great. Thanks for my morning smile!!!

[ProSense]

4. Wow!

He'll have to book a bigger hall next time. This is wonderful news.

[sandnsea]

5. That is awesome!!

I hope they took names because those are the people we need to talk to their friends and family and start changing the Dem image and shifting the political conversation back to the left. I really wish every single liberal Democrat would devote a week or so to the south and go to some of the most red counties and just meet folks. It is ridiculous to continue to have this north/south divide.

So does anybody know what the Woodmen of the World is because we have a WOW Hall in Eugene too.

[politicasista]

6. That is terrific!

I agree with IB, they need to learn to stockpile on food down here more.

As I said earlier, it's time for Dems to stop seeing Dem candidates/nominees through the Bill Clinton prism. (I like Gore, but how come he doesn't get blamed for "writing us off?" :shrug:) Nice to know that that snarky former chairman doesn't speak for all of SC.

[WildEyedLiberal]

7. Exactly

"Dems needs to stop seeing Dem candidates through the Bill Clinton prism."

That is SO true. The Bill era is over, folks. Time to move forward into the future.

[ginnyinWI]

9. there's a lot of conventional wisdom the party needs to get over

I'm glad that JK is able to help them see it. He's learned and grown since the election, and the rest of the Dem establishment had better hurry and catch up.

[blm]

12. This article really needs to get posted in GD-P. The southern strategist

yakkers have been LYING to Democrats.

[JI7]

10. there are a lot of people who really need him

they needed someone to listen to, someone that would listen to them. hopefully and i'm sure he will go back there and many other places.

remember the huge crowd he had in Texas ?

[JI7]

11. meanwhile, McCain who "everyone" loves

is campaigning for Allen but can't get VETERANS to show up .

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2462854

[beachmom]

13. I like that press report better than from my paper

You know, it is interesting how Kerry draws good crowds, while supposedly more popular politicians don't. What's going on around here? Is there an alternate universe from the one the MSM paints? My world, btw, is like the MSM one, so I enjoy reading about the alternate universe.

[globalvillage]

14. Bwahahaha

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Everybody Hates McCain
I thought the country's collective mancrush meant that no one could resist travelling hundreds of miles to bask in his manly glare for a few moments. Guess not.
The evening was billed as a "veterans for Allen" rally, but the hotel's conference room was less than half-filled, even after a phone push for a larger turnout. Veterans came from as far away as Colonial Heights, but their numbers were little greater than the reporters and camera people who were there.
As it was, the rally started 10 minutes late and finished more than 20 minute early, according to a campaign worker's schedule.
-Atrios 11:25 AM
http://atrios.blogspot.com/2006_08_13_atrios_archive.html#115582934576508986

Sen. John McCain of Arizona bolstered Allen's defense credentials at a Veterans for Allen rally in downtown Norfolk. About 125 people attended the event at the Norfolk Marriott hotel.
http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&%09s=1045855935264&c=MGArticle&cid=1149190018926&path=!news!politics

[politicasista]

15. Hope he goes back there again

cause I heard that the DNC (in GD/P) voted overwhelmingly to make SC and Nevada the states for choosing the candidate/nominee for 08.

[karynnj]

16. I agree - here Kerry will benefit from the expectation game

In 2004, Clark and Edwards were the only even remotely Southern candidates . He got 45% of the vote. Clark, who didn't appear often (or at all)wrote the state off as Edwards' home state. Clark was in the single digits. Kerry got 30% and Sharpton in double digits.

Lets say that Gore does not run - Warner, Bayh and Edwards could split the white SC vote - if they are all still in. (Indiana is more Southern than its location.) All three of these people will have to do well to be taken seriously. Clinton will likely get a reasonable share of the vote. This may prevent ANY of them from getting a % above 30%.

What is the effect if:
Warner/Edwards/Bayh (mostly white)
Hillary (mostly black - because of Bill)
Kerry (mixed - many wanting some one with real terorism/military exerience that NONE of the other have. There have to be some people who want this.)

Split the vote 5 ways - getting around 20% each. (or 25% if one of the top ones gets very little). There is a real chance of it being a super big tie - in a must win state for all but Kerry and Hillary. Imagine if Kerry comes in 1st, 2nd or 3rd.