Joe Drennan
Staff WriterWith the presidential election only a few weeks away, major party candidates are stepping up their efforts to gain late votes by targeting specific groups.
This week in Forest Lake veterans and NASCAR fans were the targets for political rallies.
Area veterans helped organize a Veterans for John Kerry rally at the gazebo in Lakeside Memorial Park on Thursday.
The rally featured former deputy assistant secretary of the Navy and a Swift Boat captain. Wade Sanders.
Sanders fought alongside John Kerry in Vietnam.
On Monday, the Republican National Committee organized a rally at Denny Hecker Dodge in Forest Lake that featured NASCAR legend Richard Petty as guest speaker.
At the Veterans for Kerry rally, Sen. Don Bestle said that every vote counts, so make sure everyone has a clear understanding of the goals of the candidates.
Knowing the issues were important to those at the Veterans for Kerry rally. Many of the speakers talked about the attacks on Kerryís service record and the validity of his three purple hearts, but rebutted questioning President Bushís National Guard service.
ìWe were watching our friends get killed and maimed with a government who didn't support what we were doing,î Sanders said. ìJohn Kerry and the rest of us had to learn how to assess a situation and people as fast as possible and how to handle it. That quality in John Kerry will help him be a better president than George Bush.î
At the Bush rally, Petty talked about how he feels George Bush is a lot like people who identify with racing in that they are ìmiddle of the road people.î
ìI look at a lot of the people up here in Minnesota and I see the same thing I see in the racers,î Petty said.
ìPeople like us say let me do what I want to do and leave me alone.î
War on Terror
In the past few days there has been plenty of discussion on both candidatesí stances on the war in Iraq and the war on terror. Both Sanders and Petty had a take on the candidates they are backing.
ìThe protection of this country and the global community are important to John Kerry,î Sanders said. ìJohn Kerry wants this president to succeed in Iraq and for our soldiers on the ground to succeed, but he understands when a commander is failing he is replaced. Our commander in chief is failing and he needs to be replaced.î
The Veterans for Kerry rally was before Kerryís comments about reducing the war on terror to a simple nuisance were made.
In response to Kerryís remarks, Petty said. ìThe war on terror is being fought here, itís being fought out in California and in Level Cross, NC (Pettyís hometown).
ìWe donít want to fight them here so let's go fight the terrorists in their own back yard.î
Candidate support
Sanders and Petty have two very different backgrounds and come from different parts of the country. Sanders is a lawyer from San Diego while Petty is a NASCAR owner from Level Cross.
Both men said they have their own reasons for backing the presidential candidates.
Petty said he supports President Bush because he is a ìplain old country guy who doesnít like to be bothered.î
ìI like Bush because I feel like I can trust him and he doesnít talk down to me. I feel sometimes John Kerry talks down to people and thatís not right. What you see is what you get with Bush, but Kerry is a different person every time you see him.î
It is clear as to why Sanders supports John Kerry.
The two have been friends since they met in the service, but he says that apart from the friendship he truly believes in John Kerryís mission.
ìJohn Kerry is committed to improving the quality of life in this country,î Sanders said. ìThe number one duty of a veteran is to protect his comrades. As the commander in chief John Kerry will protect us all.î
Sanders added that like other people who have to overcome great challenges in life, he found out who his true friends were in Vietnam and Kerry was one of them.
Because Kerry was there with him when he needed him, he wants to be there for Kerry in the final days of the campaign when Kerry needs him, Sanders said.
Petty had a different view as to why he is lending his name and time to the Bush campaign.
ìI stepped in because I was very concerned about the future of my kids and grandkids,î Petty said. ìI donít feel comfortable with them in the hands of John Kerry.î
Petty added, ìMy number is 43 and this presidentís number is 43 and we want to see 43 in the victory circle again.
Both Sanders and Petty said they respect everyoneís opinion to vote for whomever they want and both expressed the importance of voting on Nov. 2.
Sanders talked about how close the last election was and the importance of persuading neighbors or relatives who didnít vote four years ago into voting, things shouldnít be as close this time around.
Petty simply said, ìIf you donít vote, donít complain. If you donít vote then you donít have anything to stand on.î
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