Roanoke (VA) Kerry supporters select VP preference

[spooky3]

This was sent in an email from my county org.

ROANOKE-AREA KERRY FANS CHOOSE EDWARDS AS BEST RUNNING MATE
Gov. Mark Warner only got three votes when nearly 60 people gathered to select their preference for the Democratic vice presidential candidate.
By Rachael Jackson
Roanoke Times
Look no further for your running mate, John Kerry.
A group of Roanoke-area Kerry supporters decided Thursday that John Edwards would be the best match.
At what they called a Veepstakes, nearly 60 people gathered at Patrick Henry High School to vote for their preference to accompany the Democratic senator from Massachusetts in his battle for the White House.
Of the 54 people who voted, 27 named North Carolina Sen. John Edwards the best choice. In second place was New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson with 16 votes. Gov. Mark Warner was included in the Veepstakes but got only three votes.
New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Vermont Gov. Howard Dean didn't get any votes, but there were two write-in votes for Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio.
Edwards "has made a lot of friends across the nation. He is very popular in southwestern Virginia," said Henry Tieleman, 71, of Riner. Tieleman is the vice chairman of the Democratic Committee of the 9th District.
Dressed in a button-down shirt embroidered with John Kerry's name, Tieleman sold yard signs and bumper stickers to attendees.
The event, which was mainly focused on local campaigning for Kerry, attracted a range of ages. Samantha Broadhurst, 20, of Roanoke County voted for Edwards at the Veepstakes.
"I think he'll definitely bring in the young people," the James Madison University student said.
So far, Kerry has been secretive about who he will name as his running mate, though Edwards is considered a favorite because of his likability and Southern appeal. According to some news accounts, the Kerry campaign is preparing a ceremony announcing his running mate sometime next month.
"I think he's going to pick Edwards," said Elaine Owens, 60, a retired teacher from Botetourt County who spoke to the group about why Edwards would be the best choice.
Others gave short speeches in favor of Richardson, Warner and Gen. Wesley Clark.
"If you want to have what we had under Clinton, vote for Wesley Clark," said Josh Humphries, 22, of Roanoke County. Clark got one vote Thursday night.
The group of mostly Democrats and a few independents started meeting monthly in February after they signed up with a Web site called Meetup that brings people with similar interests together. The group has gone from three people mingling at Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea in February to the nearly 60 who showed up Thursday night. Several hundred are on their mailing list. Nationally, 121,500 people have signed up with what is called the Kerry in 2004 Meetup.
Member Sue Taylor, 53, of Roanoke County, said frustrated Republicans have attended some meetings.
"They don't really trust what's coming out of the White House anymore," she said.
A primary goal of the group is to let Kerry supporters in the Roanoke area know they are not alone.
"There seem to be a lot of Kerry supporters who just don't realize there are others out there," organizer Brian Lang said during the meeting.

[wjsander]

1. So Kucinich got more votes than Clark...

and Kucinich wasn't even on the ballot. :7

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

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[chimpymustgo]

3. Real people - VOTING. Geez, can't take that seriously. LOL! Go JRE

Real people, real voters always pick Edwards in these VP polls. The only ones he loses are ridiculous Internet "polls".

People love the guy. Kerry/Edwards '04. And beyond...

[wjsander]

5. Wait a minute... you mean those "polls"

that let someone rank their guy #1 and rank the otherwise favorite #5 just to give their guy the best possible chance of getting to the top?! Why, whatever could be the problem with those?! :+

[Protected]

6. Come on...

I agree that internet polls are useless, but I also feel that the opinion of 54 Roanoke, VA Kerry supporters doesn't necessarily mean anything, either.

[WI_DEM]

4. congrats DK supporters

on your write-in votes--he has made a difference in this race.

[PeaceProgProsp]

7. This is how Kerry won in every state after IA and NH ...

...he was the favorite early, so he's the best choice.

I find it amusing that Edwards supporters are trying to use the same strategy to get him on the ticket.

It's a smart strategy. I hope it works.

[Doosh]

8. the people want Edwards

[Skwmom]

18. Just like the people wanted Dean. e/o/m

[wjsander]

19. HAHAHA! Just like the people wanted Clinton? Or Kerry?

Or any other popular canidate that actually did well?!

So silly. :silly:

e/o/m

[Bombtrack]

9. One thing that shows most people are clueless about who's in contention

for vp is Richardson's continual regurgitation from people's mouths as an actualy contender for the vp race. He evidently can't refuse it enough. Just like McCain. Rediculous. It show's how unbelievably lazy the media is. Richardson get's ton's of false press about the veepstakes but Graham get's a miniscule amount.

[chimpymustgo]

10. I don't rule out Richardson as a dark horse possibility.

Personally, I think Kerry is still making up his mind.

[JI7]

11. right, why else would he agree to do a vp interview

if he was 100 percent serious about not being vp they would not waste time with that. i'm not sure where kerry is on vp. i think he might have a list which a top choice. but he might still be keeping his mind open to see whether he should look at other things. the recent reports on richardson and graham suggest he might still be looking to pick someone based on national security experience.

[Invidious]

12. VA could become a Battleground State

My mother lives in VA Beach, which is in the middle of the highly military Hampton Roads area, and she has told me that everyday she sees more and more Kerry bumperstickers. Apparently Virginians love their Demo. Gov Warner, so that is possibly helping Kerry.

[JI7]

13. Kerry has put money into the state

mark warner could be a dark horse. but so far it seems he is unlikely to be picked. probably because he just got into office. but i'm sure he can help kerry whether he is vp or not.

[elperromagico]

14. The last poll I saw for Virginia

had Bush at 47% and Kerry at 45%. Could be a fluke, of course, but coming from a state which Bush won by eight points in 2000, it's encouraging.

[spooky3]

15. welcome to DU, invidious!

[Padraig18]

16. Welcome to DU, invidious!

:hi:

[spooky3]

17. I agree he may be a candidate, but there are a lot of reasons he would

have a meeting with Kerry regardless. You wouldn't want to refuse to meet when asked, and risk alienating the future President of the US (some journalist would be sure to report this as a snub, so if you're asked, you go). You may want to have your time with Kerry to offer your thoughts on many topics--how the campaign is going, how he can win your state, policy issues, etc. You may want to hear from him what you can do to help. You want to make a good impression because during his term you may want an appointment he has to offer even if you don't want the vp slot. Etc., etc. That's why I don't read much into these reports of meetings or interpret brief meetings, etc.