(The following article by Michael Coleman was posted on the Albuquerque Journal website on August 7.)
RATON, N.M. — John Kerry’s “Believe in America” train tour rolled through northeast New Mexico on its way to a rally in Las Vegas, N.M., on Saturday night and found hundreds of supporters— and more than a few hecklers— lining the tracks along the edge of Raton’s Downtown.
“Thank you, Raton,” the Democratic presidential nominee shouted into a microphone as he waved to supporters from the train as it rolled slowly through town.
“Help is on the way,” the Massachusetts senator said.
Kerry and John Edwards, his vice presidential running mate, came to New Mexico to help boost their ticket’s chances of winning the hotly contested battleground state in the November election with President Bush.
As the Democratic ticket’s train moved through Raton, Democrats held up signs ranging from the standard “Kerry-Edwards” placard to a unique “Bostonian Ratonian for Kerry” message.
But the mining and ranching town didn’t offer a unanimous welcome to Kerry and his North Carolina running mate. Plenty of bystanders professed their loyalty to the sitting president.
“President Bush opines; Kerry whines!” said one hand-made sign held up by a Bush supporter on the side of the tracks.
The brief Raton visit marked Kerry’s third trip to New Mexico since winning the state’s Democratic caucus in February.
5,000 turn out
In Las Vegas, an estimated 5,000 supporters waited in front of the historic La Castenada Hotel for the Kerry-Edwards train to arrive.
Twelve-year-old Alejandra Elizalde was in the crowd, wanting to catch a glimpse of Kerry.
“I want to see the future president,” said Elizalde. She, her parents and other family members traveled to the Las Vegas event from Albuquerque.
“Hope is on the way,” Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M., told the lively crowd.
“Can you say we’re better off than we were four years ago?” asked Lt. Gov. Diane Denish.
Kerry was expected to congratulate members of the New Mexico National Guard’s 720th Transportation Company, who are based in Las Vegas and have just returned from 15 months in Iraq.
The campaign train was scheduled to move from Las Vegas to Albuquerque, where the candidates were to spend Saturday night at the Sheraton Uptown Hotel.
Kerry and his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, are scheduled to attend Mass in Albuquerque today, then do some shopping and have lunch before reboarding the train on their way to a stop in Gallup tonight.
On his trip to Gallup, Kerry plans to hold a traditional talking circle with pueblo governors. Later, he and his wife plan to attend the powwow dancing competition that is part of the annual Inter-tribal Indian Ceremonial at Red Rock State Park outside Gallup.
Organizers said the Kerrys will watch dancers representing 47 Indian tribes and deliver remarks shortly after 5 p.m.
Edwards to Kansas
Edwards and his wife, Elizabeth, will strike out on their own from Albuquerque today, en route to Lawrence, Kan., then to Chicago.
Not to be outdone in New Mexico, Bush is scheduled to make his own appearance in Albuquerque on Wednesday, accompanied by Vietnam war hero Sen. John McCain of Arizona.
Laura Capps, spokeswoman for the Kerry-Edwards campaign, said Saturday’s stop in Las Vegas was meant to demonstrate the Democratic ticket’s commitment to small-town America, where many people live in poverty, with no health care and limited prospects for well-paying jobs.
Nearly 25 percent of San Miguel County residents live below the poverty line, and the county’s annual median family income is less than $24,000, according to U.S. Census figures.
Kerry rolled into New Mexico from a campaign stop earlier Saturday in La Junta, Colo., where he promised several thousand supporters that, if elected, he would push to provide them with health insurance as good as the insurance provided at taxpayers’ expense to members of Congress.
“When we get in there, every family’s health care in America will be just as important as any politician’s in Washington, D.C.,” Kerry told the supporters under a sweltering summer sun.
“Health care is not just a priority for the wealthy, the connected and the elected; it’s a right for all Americans,” Kerry said.
Kerry’s cross-country tour started July 30 in Boston and is expected to conclude on the West Coast this week.
Bush campaign spokesman Danny Diaz said the Democratic candidates’ overall message won’t sell in New Mexico.
“John Kerry doesn’t understand the issues affecting New Mexico and Hispanic Americans, and he will be a hard sell in the West,” Diaz said in a telephone interview.
One of Kerry’s daughters, 30-year-old Alexandra Kerry, said Saturday in an interview with the Journal that the notion that her father doesn’t understand Western issues is a horrible misconception.
“He is someone who has seen the world and understands the world,” Alexandra Kerry said. “He gives a great amount of respect to different places and people and he has a huge amount of respect for the West.”