With Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry's campaign riding high as an elephant's eye after Monday's win in Iowa, several prominent southwestern Pennsylvania Democrats have jumped on his bandwagon as it rumbled into New Hampshire for next week's primary.
Darrell Sapp, Post-GazettePennsylvania State Treasurer Barbara Hafer talks with Chris Heinz, who arrived in Pittsburgh yesterday from Iowa.
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Kerry's come-from-behind victory in the corn state's caucuses grew cob-sized smiles at yesterday morning's news conference in Democratic Party headquarters, Downtown, where state Treasurer Barbara Hafer said she was endorsing the four-term senator because of his long record of public service and his courage under fire while in the Navy.
"He's an impressive guy with an impressive record, that includes being a highly decorated hero in Vietnam," Hafer said. "It's a big decision to send people into war. He has personal experience, he's clear about his positions and he's courageous."
Also endorsing Kerry were Allegheny County Council members Brenda Frazier and Bill Robinson, City Council members Alan Hertzberg and Luke Ravenstahl, state Rep.Bill DeWeese, former Steelers running back Franco Harris and Bill Sterner, president of System Local 102 of the Utility Workers Union of America.
Hafer, who acknowledged her long-standing support of Teresa Heinz Kerry, said yesterday's endorsements were scheduled before the Iowa caucuses
"Certainly the timing is nice but I've been trying to do this for three months already," said Hafer, who paid for supporters to travel to Iowa to work for the 59-year-old senator and will send more to New Hampshire.
Kerry's stepson, Chris Heinz, who returned from Iowa over the weekend, said he isn't surprised that Kerry won because he saw the crowd size and enthusiasm building at the senator's recent appearances, but that the margin of victory was a shock.
"I've been in an RV driving around Iowa for two months and didn't know if he was going to finish first or fourth, but recently the polls changed and the crowds changed. Last week he had standing-room-only crowds," Heinz said. "We've been saying he was going to surprise people, but his big margin of victory and his polling in the high-30s percentage, I don't think anyone saw that coming."
Heinz said the campaign took in $600,000 last week and expects to get donations totaling $1 million this week.
Clayton Wukich, regional coordinator for the Kerry campaign, said the endorsements were unusual because Pennsylvania's April 27 primary is still three months away.
Road to the White House:
First Published: January 21, 2004, 5:00 a.m.
