Kerry vows vigilance on Florida vote count

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — The several hundred people who came to a community center to hear Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry yesterday seemed to be waiting for Nancy Geneivive's question.

"You can call me cynical — but what can we do to prevent (Republicans) from stealing the election again?" the 52-year-old artist from Coral Springs asked the presumed Democratic presidential nominee. Before she could even finish speaking, the crowd chimed in with whoops and loud applause.

Kerry campaigned in three Florida cities yesterday, ostensibly to rouse Democrats before today's primary. Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas also hold delegate selection contests today. But with all of his major rivals gone from the Democratic race, much of the focus was on Election Day in November and the fear of voter disenfranchisement.

"This is where people are going to go vote tomorrow," Kerry said as he stood outside a library in West Palm Beach, the epicenter of the state's voting problems in the 2000 presidential election.

"This is the place that reminds America that not only does every vote in the United States count, but that every vote is going to be counted in this year and in this election and in the future," he added.

The recurring specter of the 2000 recount speaks to how the rancorous battle of the last campaign is shadowing this year's contest. In a dispute that went to the U.S. Supreme Court, Bush won Florida by 537 votes out of almost 6 million cast — and with it the presidency. This year, both parties are gearing up for months of intensive campaigning and another close race in November.

Kerry said he is putting together a legal team to study historically troubled voting precincts, as well as the new Diebold electronic voting machines, which have been criticized as vulnerable to manipulation.

Kerry said his campaign officials would seek court injunctions if they have reason to think voting procedures in certain places may be violated.

"We'll pre-challenge, if necessary," he said at the town-hall meeting in Hollywood. "But I guarantee: Not only do we want a record level of turnout to vote, we want to guarantee that every vote is counted, and we will do that."

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http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2001874767_kerry09.html

He is doing a damn good job!

I think millions are waiting to hear this!


Cher