Blaine Dems raise $300,000 for
Kerry-Edwards
Heinz Kerry delivers inspirational
speech at Saturday event
By GREG STAHL
Express Staff Writer
A Blaine County presidential fundraiser on
Saturday was the largest Democratic money-raising event the state of Idaho has
ever had.
The event, featuring potential first lady
Theresa Heinz Kerry, raised more than $300,000 and was attended by more than 350
people from all over the state. The clouds in an otherwise rainy week parted for
the afternoon as supporters of Sen. John Kerry for president streamed into the
back yard at a north Ketchum home.
"They came from Sandpoint to Idaho Falls,
all over the state. It was fabulous," said Alan Blinken, who hosted the event at
his home, not far from where Heinz Kerry also owns a home.
Blinken, a former New York investment
banker and the Clinton administration’s ambassador to Belgium, said Heinz Kerry
spoke for about 40 minutes.
"She had a conversation with the people,"
he said. "She just went over everything, her life, her beliefs, John’s beliefs.
It was just a far-ranging, quiet talk in the aspen grove here."
The press was not invited to attend the
private function, and security was tight. Blinken said about 35 local volunteers
helped pull it off.
Meanwhile, Teton County, Wyo. Democrats
raised $410,000 for the Kerry-Edwards campaign last week, doubling that state’s
previous fundraising record. About 150 people attended the fundraising event
held at a private home in Jackson.
Back on home turf, Faith Wellman, the
Blaine County coordinator for Kerry’s campaign, said Heinz Kerry’s talk on
Saturday was moving.
"It was very inspirational and very
positive in light of all the rhetoric we hear today," Wellman said. "It was
really very heartfelt. I think she was able to do that because she’s got a
connection to this community. It wasn’t just a whistle stop and another piece of
chicken. It was a lot more personal than that, and it touched me."
Idaho Democratic Party Chair Carolyn Boyce
called the fundraiser "great" and "beautiful." She said the event brought to
light the intense commitment many Democrats have to trying to elect a new
president.
"This time, there’s a real commitment to
electing John Kerry," she said. "There’s an energy we haven’t seen in a long
time. Democrats really believe this is the most important election in at least a
generation. They really believe that. There were people there we haven’t seen in
a long time, and they were writing checks."
Blinken said he was surprised a number of
Republicans attended.
"It shows something’s going on," he said.
"I’m sure the Republicans are unhappy with budget deficits. They’re unhappy with
the war. I’m sure they’re unhappy with the direction this administration has
gone."
Blinken said the values Heinz Kerry talked
about were not specific to Idaho.
"They’re Idaho values, but they’re
national values," he said. "These are the kinds of things people here are
concerned about."