EVERETT – They cheered and chanted, laughed and applauded. And time and again on Thursday night, John Kerry loyalists rose from their chairs inside a packed union hall to roar in approval as the Democratic nominee for president made his case to delegates at the National Demo- cratic Convention in Boston and viewers nationwide.
“It was a wonderful speech,” said Pauline Sadler of Everett. “Tonight, he was very inspired. He had a lot of fervor to his voice. In my opinion, he’s what I look for in a statesman.”
An estimated 200 people filled the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers building on Hoyt Avenue to watch the final hours of speechmaking, capped by Kerry’s address. Similar events took place in 100 locations around the state and nearly 5,000 places nationwide.
Before the speech, Travis Patterson of Everett, political coordinator for the union’s Local 191, said Kerry needed to talk about outsourcing of jobs and rising health care costs and try to appeal to the small percentage of voters who remain undecided.
“He touched all the bases,” Patterson said. “He addressed all the issues of working families and working people of this country.”
Lynn Claughton of Everett, vice chairman of the 38th District Democratic Committee, called it a “masterful speech, really moving. I think he reached out and touched about everybody with his talk about values.”
The Everett event began just after 5 p.m. Bouquets of red, white and blue balloons greeted guests, who then nibbled and munched from offerings on two tables of food set inside the union hall. There were salads, pasta and chicken, as well as cookies, cakes and coffee.
In the crowd, Democratic lawmakers and candidates mingled with party strategists and committed Democratic voters. Conversations stopped and their attention focused on the C-Span coverage when Kerry’s daughter, Vanessa Kerry, reached the podium.
When her father was introduced and delivered his opening line, “I’m John Kerry and I’m reporting for duty,” the place erupted in shouts and applause.
Gayle Behrens, her son, Michael, and her mother, Shirley Rich, were visiting from Arizona and found out about the event online. They wanted to celebrate with like-minded voters.
Rich said Kerry’s most important words were “when he said the United States of America. We need to be united.”
As Democrats cheered their presidential nominee, Snohomish County Republican activists worked the phones to secure and strengthen support for President Bush and other GOP candidates. Twenty-five people toiled in phone banks set up by the county Republican Party in Everett, Marysville and Bothell.
“We’re doing our grass-roots, like they are,” said Frauna Hoglund, chairman of the party’s county operation.
Reporter Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623 or jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
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