Idaho: Democrats gather for Gore as Kerry support grows

[Feanorcurufinwe]

Former Vice President Al Gore fired up a sold-out democratic banquet Saturday night, attacking the Republican right wing and urging his party to take advantage of what he sees as America's change of heart.

"Here in this state, where Republicans have flexed their muscles for so long, there is that rising up among men and women who know the other side has gone too far," Gore told over 750 people at the annual Frank Church Banquet.

In a speech peppered with self-deprecating humor, Gore attacked the policies of Attorney General John Ashcroft, the war in Iraq, the administration's support for the Patriot Act, it's environmental policy and an economic policy he said favors the wealthy.

"I'm concerned about the economy," Gore said to a cheering crowd. "I was the first one laid off. You don't forget something like that."

Idaho party leaders saw the event as one of the most enthusiastic in years.

"We always seem to be able to get excited for a while," former Democratic Governor Cecil Andrus said, "but this time there seems to be more to it."

Andrus and others were also buoyed by the prospect that either Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry or North Carolina Sen. John Edwards would help candidates below them on the November ballot.

Party Chairman Carolyn Boyce was confident Idaho Democrats will build in the November election on the gains they've made in the state Legislature and city halls over the past two years.

The party has no illusions about winning Idaho in November. The last Democrat to win the state's presidential vote was Lyndon Johnson in 1964. But Democrats were optimistic about making additional gains in the Legislature, and a strong moderate at the top of the ticket can help.
http://www.magicvalley.com/news/worldnation/index.asp?StoryID=7737

[NewYorkerfromMass]

1. GORE: "I was the first one laid off."

LOL! Good show!

[Old and In the Way]

2. Great News....taking it to the heart of Republicanism

We can and should carry our message to every state....make Karl and the RNC spend time and resources to shore up their base.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

3. Just like Idaho, we might not have good chances here in Montana

but that just means I plan on fighting twice as hard.

[King of New Orleans]

4. Turns out Edwards was supposed to be the speaker

at the dinner, but canceled to concentrate on the bigger states.

I knid of thought it would have been good for Edwards had tried to make a statement in one of the three states voting this Tuesday (Hawaii, Idaho, and Utah). I'm sure Hawaii is too far and according to this article he's ceded Idaho. Is Edwards doing anything in Utah?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

6. The only candidate I've heard of campaining in these 3 states recently

is Kucinich in Hawaii, lucky guy...

[King of New Orleans]

8. If Kucinich is smart

he'll also compete in the American Samoas :)

[Moderator]

5. Feanorcurufinwe

Per DU copyright rules
please post only 4
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DU Moderator

[Feanorcurufinwe]

7. Sorry, I'm usually pretty good at that

I guess I slipped up this time.

[bluestateguy]

9. I think Edwards snubbed the state

Not a smart thing to do in a state he could have won given its small number of voters and the cheap media market.