Posted on 10/15/2004 8:29:30 AM PDT by RedBloodedAmerican
DAYTONA BEACH -- Should Democrats be allowed to see President Bush when he makes a campaign stop here Saturday? Absolutely not, says the chairman of the Republican Executive Committee for Volusia County.
Sure, why not, says the co-chairman.
Meanwhile, anyone who wanted a ticket for the outdoor rally, to be held on the grounds of a Fentress Boulevard building owned by International Speedway Corp., got one Thursday at area Republican party headquarters, regardless of affiliation.
That was news -- bad news -- to Candy Gilman, local GOP chairwoman, who stressed in a telephone interview that the 14,000 tickets being distributed were supposed to be "just for Republicans."
"I don't think a Democrat would come in unless they want to do something we don't want them to do," Gilman said. "I'm going to have to talk with my office folks."
Earlier in the day, however, local Republican co-chairman Jim Coffield proudly demonstrated to a reporter how egalitarian his party was being by not asking people their affiliation before handing out tickets. All they had to do was give their name, address and telephone number.
"How can you stop anyone from seeing the president of the United States? It's open to anyone who wants to see the president," he said.
By 5:30 p.m., those wanting tickets were asked to show their voter registration cards, although that wasn't a requirement if they said they didn't bring it. They were also asked whether they supported the president.
About 5,700 tickets were distributed Wednesday. Thursday's count was not available, although Coffield noted that people were lined up outside the door by 8 a.m.
Coffield said there were two categories of tickets, which he jokingly termed "squinting tickets and non-squinting tickets." The latter were being distributed to volunteers and others who have "done great things for the party," he said.
Non-squinting ticket holders will be subject to special security clearances because they'll be close to the president when he "works the ropes," after his speech, according to Coffield.
In addition to the president, a slate of local Republican candidates and a "big time entertainer" will also appear at the rally, Coffield said.
Gates for the event, at 525 Fentress Blvd., are slated to open at 12:45 p.m. Saturday, although Bush is not expected to speak until sometime after 3 p.m. There will be parking in Speedway-owned lots.
Democratic party officials said no official protests were planned.
For ticket information, call (386) 322-7020.
FYI
This has disaster-for-Bush written all over it. Thanks a lot Floriduh.
When we had a rally here in La Crosse, WI for President Bush this past summer, we had intensive security. We went through 3 check points, and no one was admitted without a photo ID. A few people without them were disappointed, but too bad, it was mentioned in our local paper to have ID's in hand. I sure hope those REP Floridians, in their eagerness to be fair to Dems, don't get liberal with their security. The CRACK POTS are out there.
President Bush will be in St. Petersburg, downtown at the former Al Lang field (Florida Progress field) on Tuesday.
Tickets can be picked up on Monday from 9 to 9 at GOP headquarters.
I should add; the Dems I know who are voting Bush are doing so because they do not like Kerry. Not so much because they agree with Bush on policies, at least not in whole.
They have a large FBI office and a good SWAT team in this area. Plus I suppose there are allot of out of town security people driving in.
Be careful. Bring coffee. I'll be praying for ya.
But I am meeting many Democrats who are voting for Bush and I think they should be allowed to see the President, election year or not.
Good point. Well, I'll be hoping for the best. I just hope some gaggle of Michael Moore Kool-Aid drinkers don't do something stupid.
(Oh, what the hell am I saying...OF COURSE they're going to do something stupid...I mean more stupid than usual.)
Quite a tough spot.
Good luck, Godspeed, and God bless.
i am upset, i was supposed to be down in jax this weekend but i decided to go next, poor timing i guess!! i would have loved to see the pres again. i rememeber when Bush senior came to Bismarck and my mom let me skip school to go see him, i wiggled my way to the front of the commoners section and got to shake his hand. great memories!
... let some of the "evil" party supporters show themselves - the Biketoberfest crowd is coming in to Daytona early this year (starting today, as a matter of fact) and I can tell you for a fact that most of the bikers are die-hard Bush fans! Also, I imagine the Nam Vets motorcycle club will find a way to neutralize 'em...
We might see a crowd of 100,000 +
Me, too! I have gotten tickets for folks as far away as Gainesville (college Republicans) - 10 of them, and also got 17 tickets for other folks I am delivering to today.
I think there is going to be more people than they expect, and I think they will have wished they had held it at the Speedway when all is done and said. It's gonna be HUGE
More than you know.
Don't forget that it was Al Queda who used the ID of one of the Embry Riddle grads from here to board an aircraft on Sept 11th (although Riddle will deny it)
They are around.
Darn thing is you can't tell them apart from allot of the Kerry people.
Let em all come, just make sure they get searched before they get in!
If Little E showed up, every soul in Daytona would be at the rally!
Any guess who it is?
Didn't Earnhardt Jr. tell the media that he and his entire crew watched Farenheit 9/11 and he thinks everyone should see it?
I remember something about that. He's too busy trying to be a hollywood rockstar.
this was a TOTALLY dumb ass move. An invitation for disaster. Now why would the dems line up for tickets other than to screech and shout and disrupt the pres?
I'd put money that the tickets handed out to other than repubs did NOT go to any undecideds.. or dems who are still open minded to change.
I guaran dam tee you that the press will surely be at this one.
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