Reply #4: My Part of Arkansas is Fired Up!

[Rageneau]

Tonight I attended the 'grand' opening of the Kerry-Edwards campaign office in Fort Smith, Arkansas, located in the northwest corner of the state, which is by far its most conservative region. Wal-Mart is headquartered in this congressional district, for example, and the only Republican in the Arkansas delegation is from this district.

But now the good news.

The place was packed! And the crowd of us who crammed in there were lucky enough to meet two very special guests -- inspirations to Democrats everywhere.

The first was Susan McDougal -- bravest woman in America and one of the most genuine and warm-hearted people you could ever hope to meet. Susan drove herself up from Camden (nearly 175 miles), at her own expense, for no reason other than to help rally the troops.

The other guest was just as extraordinary. He is Fred Short, one of TWO band-of-brother Arkansans who served with Lieutenant Kerry on PC 94. He was present on the days Kerry won his medals for valor and he was emphatic that they were more than well-deserved. His description of the events of those days -- and of Kerry's heroism and leadership -- were far more vivid and extensive than I've ever heard described before. He credited JFK personally for saving his life by his quick, courageous action. No one could hear him and not be convinced that Kerry is a born leader.

I came away from the event more encouraged than I have been in a long while. Kerry's recent (long awaited) decision to take the fight to Bush, combined with a higher level of enthusism among local Democrats than even our oldest local activist (95) says she's ever seen before, have made me think the good guys might just win this one after all.

If western Arkansas even comes close to splitting the vote, the rest of the state will almost certainly go Kerry. So I'm going to do what I can to make that happen.

I mean, how can you say 'no' to Susan McDougal?