FELLOW VETERANS TO JOIN KERRY'S KICKOFF

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FANEUIL HALL RALLY TO WRAP UP EVENTS-
August 17, 2003
Boston Globe
by Glen Johnson

Iowa City, Iowa -

Senator John F. Kerry will reunite with members of his Navy boat crew when he makes a public declaration of his presidential candidacy Sept. 2-3 with speeches in South Carolina, Iowa, and New Hampshire, followed by a rally outside Faneuil Hall.

Two weeks later, Senator John Edwards will return to his hometown of Robbins, N.C., to publicly launch his candidacy, before traveling to Columbia, S.C., for an appearance.

The schedules hint not only at the interest of the two Democrats in highlighting their backgrounds as they challenge President Bush, but also the importance of South Carolina as an early primary state in the aftermath of January's Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary.

Kerry has argued that his military and law enforcement background will allow him to contend in the South, a heavily Republican region.

"The speeches in Charleston and Iowa will focus on his personal story and vision for the country under a Kerry administration," said Kerry spokeswoman Kelley Benander. "New Hampshire will highlight his economic plan, and the Boston rally will be a send-off party for the hometown crowd."

During the Sept. 2 stop in Charleston, Kerry is expected to be joined by David Alston of Columbia, a member of his boat crew during the Vietnam War. Later that day in Iowa, another crew member, Gene Thorsen of Ames, is expected to be beside Kerry, and aides hinted there might be additional crew members at each location.

The senator frequently speaks about the workings of the crew, a racially diverse group from around the country, as a metaphor for how he hopes to renew the commitment of Americans to one another.

On Sept. 3, Kerry will travel to New Hampshire and Massachusetts. An array of elected officials, family members, and friends have been invited to the Faneuil Hall rally, which will also be open to the public.

Kerry has officially been a candidate for president since December, when he filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to raise and spend campaign funds.

He has delayed a public celebration of his candidacy until now in an effort to use the free media attention that comes with such an announcement, to capture the attention of Americans as they begin to tune into the presidential campaign.

Both he and Edwards have already appeared in numerous candidate forums, and Edwards is already airing television ads in Iowa and New Hampshire, and starting Monday, also in South Carolina. His announcement speech is set for Sept. 16.

http://www.johnkerry.com/news/clips/news_2003_0818d.html