GOP greets Bush; so do 2 Democrats
When President Bush ambled down the stairs of Air Force One yesterday afternoon, Governor Mitt Romney and his wife, Ann, were waiting on the wind-swept tarmac to meet him. No surprise there: The Republican governor is a prominent Bush backer, and is poised to play an important role in undermining the president's opponent, Senator John F. Kerry of Massachusetts.
But two Democratic state legislators were also waiting to meet Bush. Representative Brian Golden of Allston, who endorsed Bush in 2000, and Senator John A. Hart Jr. of South Boston were surprising additions to the president's Logan Airport welcoming committee.
"I was third in line," said Hart, who was invited to greet Bush after the president had telephoned Sunday's St. Patrick's Day breakfast. "I said I was Jack Hart; I hosted the breakfast the other morning. He was fairly animated about it. It was a great thrill for me to meet the president."
Hart quickly added: "I hope people don't get the sense I am in any way working for or endorsing the president. I am a Democrat who is supporting John Kerry."
Golden was careful to note that the tug of Kerry's candidacy makes him a bit more reluctant to support Bush this time around. "It is a different dynamic. Kerry's the home-state candidate, and I have nothing but good feelings about him. I have not made any decision on what I will do, if anything," Golden said.
Romney and his wife rode to the Park Plaza in Bush's limousine, where they discussed "a range of issues," including jobs and homeland security, according to Romney spokeswoman Shawn Feddeman. In introducing Bush, Romney called him "a man of character, a true leader, a great leader." Romney also took the opportunity to take a few swipes at Kerry, to the delight of the roughly 1,000 people in attendance.
"The junior senator from the state of Massachusetts is a fine man. He distinguished himself in the jungles of Vietnam, but he hasn't distinguished himself in the jungles of the US Senate," Romney said. "He's been on both sides of most issues."
Romney joked that if Kerry wants to choose a running mate with views different from his own, he should choose himself.
Nevertheless, there is little doubt that Democrat-dominated Massachusetts, which hasn't voted for a Republican presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan in 1984, will end up in the Democratic column again in 2004, especially with a home-state senator as the Democrats' nominee.
As Bush's 24-vehicle motorcade approached the Park Plaza, dozens of protesters held up signs, such as "Drop Bush, Not Bombs," and yelled slogans favoring gay marriage. One woman held up her fingers in a "V" for peace, while another flashed a symbol that was less polite.
Massachusetts has proved to be fertile fund-raising ground for Bush. Last night's event raised $1.2 million for the president's reelection bid; the target had been $1 million.
"He's honest, he's sincere. I trust him, probably to a fault," said David Hill, a 62-year-old consultant from Wayland who said he gladly ponied up the $2,000 price of admission. Hill said he knows Bush's aunt, Nancy Bush Ellis, and has met his father. "It's an incredible family, incredibly tight-knit. I believe they've been brought up with values similar to mine, so I trust them."
Christopher Campos, a 27-year-old Rockland resident who is a self-employed construction worker, sounded a similar theme.
"I believe him. I just think he's an honest guy. He says what he believes," said Campos, who said he's never given to a candidate before and did so this time against the wishes of his wife, who is a Democrat.
Campos appeared to be one of the youngest people at the event, which was stripped down to maximize the campaign's overall take.
Rather than a sit-down dinner, which used to be standard at such gatherings, the contributors at "An Evening with the President" munched on cheese and crackers, egg rolls, spinach wrapped in flaky phyllo dough and other simple appetizers. There was an open bar, but only wine and beer were available. The Park Plaza ballroom was bathed in red and blue hues, and star-shaped lights were projected on the ceiling to create a patriotic mood.
Before Bush spoke, Campos said he was thrilled to be in such close proximity to the president. Hart wasn't immune to the aura of the presidency, either: Two days ago, the South Boston Democrat joined union leaders in calling on Romney to ask Bush to extend federal jobless benefits for unemployed workers in Massachusetts. But while he may be eager to tie Republicans to the so-called jobless recovery, Hart softened his remarks when he found himself face to face with the leader of the free world.
"I had a chance to tell him we have some issues, we have unemployment insurance issues on the federal level," Hart said. "But I didn't want to say too much. I didn't want to say something inappropriate."
