Heinz Kerry breezes through Ketchum
Democratic fundraiser draws visitors
from throughout the state
By GREG STAHL
Express Staff Writer
The presidential election spotlight will
turn to Sun Valley again this weekend when Teresa Heinz Kerry breezes through
town to visit friends and raise dough for her husband’s presidential bid.
Teresa Heinz Kerry
But Heinz Kerry’s visit should be much
more inconspicuous than her husband’s spring recreation vacation. When
Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. John Kerry visited their home north of
Ketchum in March, the media circus swarmed.
This time, Kerry’s Idaho financial
supporters will be the only ones swarming.
The fundraising luncheon is scheduled for
noon at the north-Ketchum home of Alan and Melinda Blinken. Alan Blinken, who
challenged Idaho Republican Sen. Larry Craig two years ago, was the U.S.
ambassador to Belgium under the Clinton administration.
The Kerry fundraiser could be big, Blinken
said.
"We were hoping for 50 to 75 people, and
we’ve got more than 300 people," he said.
They are traveling from as far away as
Sandpoint for the Idaho-specific fundraiser. Guests will include former Idaho
Govs. Cecil Andrus, John Evans, as well as state Rep. Wendy Jaquet and state
Sen. Clint Stennett, both Ketchum Democrats.
Blinken said he doesn’t want to project
how much money the event will raise, but he said it will garner a "very big"
amount.
"Many people have given more than the $500
that we’ve asked for," he said, adding that Democrats will be joined by a number
of Republicans and Independents at the event.
As an example, Blinken said he was
contacted by a Burley farmer who doesn’t plan on attending the event.
"He said he’s sick of it and sent $2,000,
and he said he’s never done anything political before," Blinken said.
Though it is a place of relaxation and
mental restoration, life in the Wood River Valley for the Kerrys has changed.
Wherever they go from now until the November election, and beyond if Kerry wins,
security will be an integral part of their lives.
Blaine County Sheriff Walt Femling said
his department will be involved with the security detail for Heinz Kerry.
"Any kind of security type of things we
do, we don’t get specific on those," he said. "Last time Sen. Kerry was here,
what I was hearing was that he probably won’t be back until after the election,
but they did not rule out Teresa Heinz Kerry being here a couple times."
On the overall election, Blinken said
Kerry stands an increasingly good chance.
"I think the American people have seen
that the Bush administration has not lived up to its word," he said. "They took
us to a war of choice. They cut taxes for the wealthy. Education hasn’t been
funded. And our veterans are getting less, not more, service.
"And the United States has never been so
poorly thought of by all our friends overseas."