Show The Herald Journal Logan Utah Sunday May 2 2004 — A7 Q Politics Kerry getting ink' on campaign trail YOUNGSTOWN Ohio (AP) Bean Counter Cafe owner Jason Logero usually forbids any political talk to avoid the yelling Then John Kerry came to town Logero tuned in live television coverage of the Democratic presidential candidate “I thought I'd make an exception” said Logero 30 watching the screen as cameras captured Kerry’s tour bus roll into this economically ailing Democratic stronghold last Tuesday “This is big news for — At the dozen-se- visit Kerry lacks the incumbent’s luxury of guaranteed coverage Other local events somdimes trump a challenger’s appearance as well During Kerry's stop in Cleveland the tup news stray on most stations was snow in April and crime Coverage of Kerry was pushed to the middle of newscasts That was about the only blip in local coverage of Kerry’s jobs tour which took him to Youngstown Geveland and Toledo The three Rust Belt cities have strong union ties and high losses of manufacturing jobs' which makes them friendly terrain for a Democrk Ohio has 20 electoral votes Polls show Bash and Kerry in a cjose race Bush won the state by less than 4 percentage points in 2000 over Democrat A1 Gore When Kerry is in a state Bush's regional media machine is in full gear Campaign popped up on television primarily during t newscasts at Youngstown” Media coverage in several Ohio stops along Kerry’s “Jobs AP photo First Express" Inis tour last week and the response from some voters were a politician's dream Television stations aired Kerry’s speeches live Radio stations previewed his appearances and dissected his eco-nomic proposals The front pages of newspapers carried Former Michigan Gov John Engler talks to the crowd before he and other area Republicans added a new sign to the Jackson City Limits sign in this July 3 1994 file photo The sign proclaims Jackson as the ‘Birthplace oflhe Republican Party Where was ©01? frirttMace? The Associated Press Their claims are cast on metal plaques humming in cyberspace and printed in obscure history books Chamber of Commerce fliers and the Congressional Record And not one of the four self-proclaimed birthplaces of the Republican Party is about to back down The Republican National Committee’s online party history says the GOP held its first informal meeting in Ripon Wis — without specifying a date It also states flatly “The 'first official Republican meeting took place on July 6th 1854 in Jackson Michigan” ' It does not mention competing claims by Exeter NH or Crawfordsville Iowa Nevertheless the debate has heated up as the GOP observes its 150th anniversary give or take a few months The next tennial celebration is set for ' early July in Jackson The “birthplace” claim by the city of 35500 located 80 miles west of Detroit is unim- peachable said Susan Mil- ' hoan president of the Greater Jackson Chamber of Commerce “Absolutely End of story” Milhoansaid Artists have been invited to paint or decorate polyurethane elephants that - - - a will occupy sponsored loca- tions around the city for three months The elephant is the GOP’s symbol A parade of real elephants is tentatively scheduled for July 2 Jackson officials have invited Michigan Gov Jennifer Granholm and President Bush to visit on July 4 and July 6 respectively “Michigan is die birthplace of many ’firsts’ — first automobile first cereal flakes first hockey player to score eaten 700 goals (Gordie Howe) — and yes first place die Republican Party convened” said Granholm a Democrat “I only wish it were the birthplace of die Democratic Party as well but die Democrats here have since caiight up” ' To Ripon partisans not even the ghost of Abraham Lincoln could validate Jackson’s claim Last month in Ripon Itep Tom Petri proclaimed: “If anyone doubts this is the birthplace just appear on ’Jeopardy!’ and if you answer any question about the founding of the Republican Party with any- - ' thing else than Ripon you’ll R-W- is lose” Milhoan countered: “Ripon did have an initial meeting but there were a There individuals (present) were 3000 to 5000 people converging on Jackson July 6 half-doz- en Just 1854 and they actually selected the name of the party” The late New Hampshire Gov Hugh Gregg insisted the GOP was organized Oct 12 1853 at Blake’s hotel in Exeter An annual observance is staged by the Amos ’Hick Society named for the Exeter congressman credited with calling that meeting “These other places are after the fact so they’re just getting around to it" said Tracy McGrail president of the Exeter Chamber of Commerce “Exeter was and is the birthplace of the Republi- - Party in Ripon Wisconsin” The resolution was approved unanimously to the dismay of New Hampshire Republican Sens John Sununu and Judd Gregg The g son of the said he and Sununu governor were not present for the voice vote : “We were not aware that (Feingold) was going to do it” Miller said “But we’re glad he did” above-the-fo- ld ' Exeter-endorsin- can ttee: http:wwwmcorg Party” Hie claim by Michigan Republican Party: population 265 is http:wwwmigoporg based on reportsof a Feb 23 Greater Jackson Chamber of 1854 meeting of abolitionists Commerce: http:wwwgjccorg who debated a platform and Ripon Area Chamber of Com- nominated candidates for what' merce: com ripon-would become the GOP HowExeter Area Chamber of ever notes taken by a Sarah Commerce: httpVwwwexeter-areaor- g Grawford were burned years later George Miller a Ripon College emeritus professor of history said Riponians “acknowledge Jackson’s claim” to the first formal Republican meeting and even allow that the first informal meeting was held in Exeter Sen Russell Feingold D-Wis went further on March 8 — introducing a Senate resolution “commemorating the 150th anniversary of the first meeting of the Republican : Craw-fordsvil- le wi http-7ww- in Time for Spring Cleaning photos of Kerry and wrote thousands of words about his policies Most Americans rank local news coverage as their leading source of campaign information according to a study by the Pew Research Center President Bush gets news coverage wherever he goes because he is the president When the Republican visited Minnesota last week newspapers and local news sta- tions previewed his visit several days before he arrived His : speech was broadcast live on television Bush’s trip was the lead stray on local television and radio newscasts The next day the president's smiling face was on the cover of both the St Paul Pioneer Press and the Minneapolis Star Tribune Both newspapers devoted several stories to the wall-to-w- On the Net: Republican National Commi- com-mercia- ls four-colu- all At the Bean Counter Cafe Kerry was talking on the television about jobs as the deli slowly filled with construction workers lawyers and businessmen on their lunch break Instead of gossiping while hunched over their sandwiches the customers’ heads were turned toward the set and Kerry Then the chatter began Jon Ardus 25 a Republican in a community dominated by ' Democrats said he did not believe Kerry could do anything to bring jobs back to the steel city “What’s the No 1 rule here?” Logero yelled to his ' staff “No politics!” they answered once-boomi- inchorus But on this day the iule was largely ignored All Prom Dresses Wedding Dresses & Accessories 50 OFF Brand New Arrivals 30 OFF 31 2004 nptmMay Hong's Alterations & Formal Wear Main St Logaa 550 753-377- 8 C ac heTCount ylU tahor Franklin £oun “LOW” WE PUT THE HI “LOANS is i Simplicity Vacuums for Only $199! let the other guys have springtime sales on Halloween costumes and snow blowers At Simplicity we’ve made a special batch of our unbelievable vacuums that last longer and perform better than ordinary vacuums just in time for spring cleaning Now’s your chance to take home a Simplicity vacuum for only $199 these same vacuums normally sell for $379 Hurry into your Simplicity retailer today because once these vacuums are gone they’re gone! 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