A Kid's Eye View - Campaigning with Teresa

For something to lighten the mood around here:

Teresa Heinz Kerry was on the road in New Hampshire this week. Courtney Campion, age 11, went along with her. Here's what Courtney sent us about her day on the campaign trail:

*******

My Day on the Road with Mrs. Heinz Kerry Campaigning for John Kerry

by Courtney Campion

When I went campaigning with Mrs. Heinz Kerry in New Hampshire on Wednesday, I learned so much about politics. What I learned was that every vote makes a difference. You are always on the move, and no matter where you are, you are always somehow campaigning.

How does every vote count? In the last presidential election Al Gore would have been president if 534 more people had voted for him in Florida. So I am going to encourage every adult I know to vote!

Campaigning is really hectic. You get delayed talking to people, and before you know it, you have to be at another event! You have to move very fast but I thought it was exciting and fun.

We campaigned everywhere, even in places no one would think of! When we were in the car, Mrs. Heinz Kerry was making campaign calls on the phone asking people to support John Kerry. We even had lunch with undecided voters!

My first event of the day was going to a Spanish class at Oyster River high school in Durham, NH. Mrs. Heinz Kerry talked to them in Spanish. She speaks five different languages, but she thinks she is rusty in one---Spanish, but I thought she was excellent! If anyone had a question, she always gave them a direct answer. I thought these kids were lucky to get to meet Mrs. Heinz Kerry. Most Americans don't get to meet and talk to presidential candidates and their families. But New Hampshire has the first primary in the presidential election, so people there often meet several candidates!

Campaigning for president is not always about being on t.v. or going to major events. We went to someone's house in Dover, NH and talked to about 40 people. There, Mrs. Heinz Kerry got a question about health care and I learned that Senator Kerry has a really good plan for kids and it is not as expensive as the other candidates' plans. If he becomes president, John Kerry would have the same health insurance for every kid in the country. It wouldn't matter who you are. Every kid would have the same health plan. This is why I think kids should be for Kerry!

Even though kids can't vote, I think more kids should get involved in politics. It is a lot of fun and you learn a lot. You should get involved in who's going to be elected because things presidents do affect kids.

http://blog.johnkerry.com/blog/archives/000915.html#more

has a nice ring to it

:party:

yup, kids should get into politics. especially on school issues. they can discuss things with their parents such as how their school can get certain things if their parents vote for something or someone. many times parents don't see how they could have prevented things such as cuts in school programs if they had paid attention to certain votes and candidates. keeping the kids involved in discussing these things with the parents can stop that from happening.

in the political process. My statement ends there.