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Democractic vice presidential candidate John Edwards rallied faithful supporters Wednesday at a campaign event on the Mall at the University of Maine. An estimated 2,500 people attended the event, according to Public Safety, bringing with them either their objection or support for Edwards, a U.S. senator from North Carolina.
The event also included introductions by UMaine alumni Stephen King, Gov. John Baldacci and Maine AFL-CIO President Ad Gorham.
Edwards took the stage to the popular Foo Fighters’ song “There Goes my Hero,” shaking hands with various supporters on his walk to the stage.
“What an honor it is for me to be here with you,” Edwards said to the crowd. Edwards thanked both King and Baldacci for speaking on his behalf and the crowd for coming out to support him.
Edwards spoke first on terrorism, perhaps the most hotly-debated topic in the election thus far.
“John Kerry and I believe that fighting terrorism … is not a Republican issue or a Democratic issue,” Edwards said. “What we believe it is, is an American issue.”
Edwards then responded to Vice President Dick Cheney’s recent claim that should Bush-Cheney not be re-elected and another terrorist attack were to take place, the American people would be to blaim.
“This statement was calculated to divide us about an issue involving the safety and security of the American people,” Edwards said. “It’s unAmerican, that’s what it is.”
Edwards also pointed out that recently the American toll in Iraq surpased 1,000.
“Every one of these men and women who died in Iraq, all of them have families,” Edwards said. “We have mothers in America who are trying to explain to their children why their father’s not there and will never be there.
“The truth is these men and women are extraordinary American patriots and all of us, we need to remember them for what they are, and not a number on a piece of paper.”
Edwards continued by discussing employment in America and what he feels is the Bush administration’s lack of progress on creating jobs.
“For 75 years, over 11 presidents … for every one of those presidents … they created jobs,” Edwards said. “Until George W. Bush.”
Edwards also talked about national security and spoke on why he feels Bush has failed to take a pro-active approach in defending the homeland.
Edwards blasted Bush’s efforts to curb growing nuclear weapons’ programs in North Korea and Iran.
“The American people are more and more at risk [under Bush],” he said. “There is such a simple choice in this election.”
Edwards at one point spoke to Bush-Cheney supporters, many of whom were members of UMaine’s College Republicans group, rallying outside security checkpoints with pro-Bush signs and paraphenelia.
“If you believe that millions of Americans losing their health care, millions of Americans losing their jobs, millions of Americans falling into poverty … if you believe all that crap, you ought to be with those people in the back and vote for George W. Bush.”
Also during the speech, Edwards addressed what he called Bush’s inability to fund the No Child Left Behind education bill, America’s dependance on foreign oil, middle class struggles, and tax credits for college tuition.
Edwards did not mention the upcoming anniversary of the September 11th attacks during his speech, nor did he mention al-Qaida or Osama bin Laden.
Edwards ended the speech by leading supporters in a “Hope is on the way” chant and beseeching the party faithful to get out and vote.
“We need John Kerry in the White House,” Edwards said.
Supporters of President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney were on hand near Edwards’ event for a pro-Bush rally. Members of the College Republicans as well as other various Bush-Cheney supporters arrived with signs, both homemade and campiagn-issued.
“We want it known that Maine College Republicans are a dynamic force,” said John Mitchell, chairman of the group. Mitchell said he expected about 100 people to attend the pro-Bush rally.
Previously in the day, pro-Bush chalk markings written on the sidewalk outside Fogler Library were washed away by Facilities Management to prepare for the event. While the author of the markings remains unknown, Mitchell decried the removal of them.
“I disagree with the university power-washing away freedom of speech,” Mitchell said.
Robert Dana, dean of students, said that the administration fully supports students’ right to free speech, but added that FM was told to not remove the markings in the afternoon. The markings were removed in the morning.
The rally was kicked off with the national anthem, sung by Annettee Sullivan, a 21-year veteran of the Maine National Guard.
“I’m a republican voting for Kerry-Edwards,” Sullivan said in a later interview.
Angel Loredo, associate dean of students, then spoke on UMaine-UVote, the university’s new iniatiative to generate student involvement in the political process, and said the Edwards rally was a prime example of something the vote program is designed to foster.
“We encourage you to participate, and we encourage you to be involved [in the election],” Loredo said to the crowd.
Gorham, president of the state’s AFL-CIO, took the stage to speak on matters he said he feels are important to Maine, including health care and education. He also spoke on what he considers failed attempts by the Bush administration to effectively lead the country.
“The biggest joke we got is running for president,” Gorham said of Bush. “What we have in George Bush running for president is a case history of saying one thing and doing another.” He continued by stressing the importance of the 2004 election and asking that each and every person in attendance get out and vote.
“Vote early and where possible, vote often,” Gorham said to the party faithful.
Stephen King was present to introduce Gov. Baldacci and also to galvanize voters and make his agenda known as a prominent Democrat. King at one point compared the Bush administration to the Nixon administration, which was mired by international scandal. King also said he feels John Kerry has an excellent chance of winning the election this November.
“I think this is an important election, maybe the most important election of my lifetime,” King said. “I don’t think the country can afford another four years of Bush and his croonies.”
King will be joining Bruce Springsteen soon on the ‘Vote for Change’ tour and will be using his fame as a tool for voter turnout.
“I’ll do what I can to support the [Kerry-Edwards] campaign,” King said.
Baldacci followed King and focused specifically on Maine and why he feels a Kerry-Edwards team in the White House would benefit the state.
“You all realize that [Maine's] all important,” Baldacci said to the crowd. “They might not figure that out in the national administration with their trickle-down policies … but you folks are important.”
Baldacci cited Edwards’ desire to reach out to all American citizens in such areas as education, employee overtime, and health insurance.
“If we’re not going to get any help in Washington, then we’re going to start building a ship here at home,” Baldacci said of Edwards.
“We can do better [than Bush],” Edwards said. “We’ve got to build one America.”
“I hate Bush,” Alisha Zalak of Bangor
Bangor Daily News