Rallying the troops

First visit to county includes stump speech, hundreds of handshakes

By SUSANNA RAY

Herald Writer

AEVERETT — The sun was out, the mountains were out and thousands of people turned out Monday for Vice President Al Gore’s first visit to Snohomish County.

"This is a Gore-geous day," quipped Snohomish County Executive Bob Drewel as he revved up the crowd before the arrival of the Democratic presidential candidate at Paine Field in Everett.

Gore ran back and forth down a long, L-shaped rope line to shake hundreds of hands on his way to the podium, taking so long that technicians scrambled to replay his music.

Kristin Gore introduced her father in glowing terms, although she made one head-scratching remark while praising his parental attentiveness.

"He helped me on my third-grade state capitals quiz," she said. "Seattle — I’ve got it down."

The Olympia blooper might have been meant as a joke, but if it was, it didn’t go over very well. Al Gore, standing behind her, smiled and wagged his finger at her while she continued on with her introduction, seemingly unaware of the confused murmuring from the crowd.

Gore promoted his plans for bolstering Social Security, improving health care, encouraging unions and protecting abortion rights in a boisterous speech that lasted almost half an hour.

He also spoke strongly in defense of his environmental record. Some environmental groups have criticized him and supported the Green Party’s Ralph Nader instead.

"This is a big issue in this election," Gore said. "You elect me president, and I will flat-out protect the environment."

At least two Nader supporters got into the ticketed event. One woman waved a modified Gore/Lieberman campaign sign she turned into a cutout of the word "Nader." A man on the other side of the hangar quietly held up a Nader bumper sticker. Campaign volunteers and hefty machinists quickly surrounded him, however, and he left soon afterward.

The crowd of several thousand included a large presence of Boeing workers and union members, gays and lesbians, and a pack of local Democratic candidates and elected officials, rounded out by hundreds of local high school and middle school students.

Ali Purdom, 14, said about 220 of her fellow students from Evergreen Middle School went to the rally "because we’re learning about the president, all that stuff, and history, and everything, and so we got a field trip."

Pat Cook, a teacher at Northlake Middle School in Lake Stevens, took 41 students to see Gore.

"Some parents obviously aren’t Gore fans," he said, adding that it wasn’t meant as a partisan event. "I just thought, here they’re learning about the whole process, and this is a great opportunity to see it in person."

Cascade High School’s band provided the music for Gore’s arrival. Band members didn’t have time to practice because they had to play at a football game Saturday, but performing for large crowds, even those including the vice president, doesn’t faze the teens, said drum major Jamie Yarbrough, 16.

The local gospel choir that jazzed up the crowd did take the time to rehearse, however. Pastor Paul Stoot from the Greater Trinity Missionary Baptist Church in Everett said the group got together Sunday afternoon, "after a four-hour service." Stoot said his choir was asked to perform because of the church’s active involvement in the community.

Plus, he’s an exuberant Gore supporter.

"I can’t tell my congregation how to vote, but I can tell them how their pastor’s going to vote," Stoot said just before going back in to the airplane hangar to personally meet Gore.

Gore’s Republican opponent, Texas Gov. George W. Bush, will return to the state at the end of the month, said Mike McKay, the Washington campaign chairman.

McKay pointed out that Bush has made three visits to Snohomish County in the past five months. Gore’s closest campaign stop was in November last year at a senior center in Bothell, south of the county line.

"I’m fascinated and interested in the fact that Gore is finally coming to Snohomish County," McKay said. "My personal feeling is that for the people of Snohomish County it should be too little, too late. And I’m confident the only reason he’s going up there is because Gov. Bush has spent so much time up there getting to know the people of Snohomish County and getting to know Snohomish County."

Both parties consider the county crucial to their success.

Democrats handed out fliers at the Gore rally Monday offering $65 a day to help "get out the vote" in the few days before the election.

Talk to us

More in Local News

FILE - A sign hangs at a Taco Bell on May 23, 2014, in Mount Lebanon, Pa. Declaring a mission to liberate "Taco Tuesday" for all, Taco Bell asked U.S. regulators Tuesday, May 16, 2023, to force Wyoming-based Taco John's to abandon its longstanding claim to the trademark. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)
Hepatitis A confirmed in Taco Bell worker in Everett, Lake Stevens

The health department sent out a public alert for diners at two Taco Bells on May 22 or 23.

VOLLI’s Director of Food & Beverage Kevin Aiello outside of the business on Friday, May 19, 2023 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coming soon to Marysville: indoor pickleball, games, drinks

“We’re very confident this will be not just a hit, but a smash hit,” says co-owner Allan Jones, who is in the fun industry.

Everett
Detectives: Unresponsive baby was exposed to fentanyl at Everett hotel

An 11-month-old boy lost consciousness Tuesday afternoon. Later, the infant and a twin sibling both tested positive for fentanyl.

Cassie Franklin (left) and Nick Harper (right)
Report: No wrongdoing in Everett mayor’s romance with deputy mayor

An attorney hired by the city found no misuse of public funds. Texts between the two last year, however, were not saved on their personal phones.

Firearm discovered by TSA officers at Paine Field Thursday morning, May 11, 2023, during routine X-ray screening at the security checkpoint. (Transportation Security Administration)
3 guns caught by TSA at Paine Field this month — all loaded

Simple travel advice: Unpack before you pack to make sure there’s not a gun in your carry-on.

Heavy traffic northbound on 1-5 in Everett, Washington on August 31, 2022.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
To beat the rush this Memorial Day weekend, go early or late

AAA projects busy airports, ferries and roads over the holiday weekend this year, though still below pre-pandemic counts.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Snohomish in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Troopers: DUI crash leaves 1 in critical condition in Maltby

A drunken driver, 34, was arrested after her pickup rear-ended another truck late Tuesday, injuring a Snohomish man, 28.

Housing Hope CEO Donna Moulton raises her hand in celebration of the groundbreaking of the Housing Hope Madrona Highlands on Tuesday, May 23, 2023 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
$30M affordable housing project to start construction soon in Edmonds

Once built, dozens of families who are either homeless or in poverty will move in and receive social and work services.

A south-facing view of the proposed site for a new mental health facility on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022, near 300th Street NW and 80th Avenue NW north of Stanwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County Council OK’s Stanwood behavioral health center

After an unsuccessful appeal to block it, the Tulalip Tribes are now on the cusp of building the 32-bed center in farmland.

Most Read