Get voters to the polls, Dean urges

By Tan Vinh
Seattle Times staff reporter

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With a few weeks left before the general election, the former presidential candidate told a raucous crowd during a get-out-the-vote rally at Pier 30 that women could decide this presidential election, and if "10 percent more of the single women" voted, they would make the difference in every swing state.

It may take many long days, Dean and other Democratic candidates told the crowd, but getting more women to vote and volunteering more hours will make more of an impact than in any past election.

Dean spent part of his 20-minute talk bashing President Bush on health care and his handling of Iraq, but mostly his pep talk focused on getting more volunteers to help the Democratic ticket.

"You can sleep after Nov. 2, but you can't do it until then," Dean told the crowd of about 1,000.

"This is fun, to come to the rally and get all cranked up, but the work begins. You have 17 days" to go, he said.

Across the nation, a record number of new voters have registered, especially for the Democrats in swing states such as Florida and Ohio. Many states also report a record-high number of election volunteers.

Inspired by that trend, the Washington State Democratic Party organized the rally before tomorrow's voter-registration deadline, to draw new voters and also to inspire supporters to recruit their neighbors and friends to campaign.

"We want to mobilize a force of volunteers to get folks out to vote on Election Day," said Robert Perez, press secretary for the Victory 2004 Washington Democrats.

Also speaking at the three-hour rally were gubernatorial candidate Christine Gregoire, U.S. Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, U.S. Rep Jay Inslee, 8th Congressional District Democratic candidate Dave Ross, attorney general candidate Deborah Senn, secretary of state candidate Laura Ruderman and state lands commissioner candidate Mike Cooper. Most had their workers signing up volunteers yesterday.

Taking their turns at the microphone, each Democrat echoed the theme that every door knocked on, every telephone call matters.
 
"As someone who won a close election, winning by 2,229 votes ... I can tell you that every vote counts," Cantwell said of her 2000 race against incumbent Slade Gorton.

With many putting in 18-hour days, the pep talks from Dean and the others were sorely needed in these final weeks.

"I think if people are more excited, they will more likely tell their neighbors and friends and co-workers to get out and vote," said Scott Lundberg, 43, of Seattle

Keith Deshaies, 40, of Kent, who is volunteering for the Democratic Party for the first time, hoped the rally would inspire other newcomers.

This rally, he said, "generates a lot of excitement. It is going to raise the awareness for the campaign in general."

Tan Vinh: 206-515-5656 or tvinh@seattletimes.com