Sunday, September 10, 2000
Politics
Campaign stop at bell humdinger
NEWPORT — All eyes watched last week as Karenna Gore Schiff, the personable and toothy daughter of Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore, moved toward the awesome immenseness of that real big bell in Newport.
Reporters waited to record the moment in words. Press photographers and television crews readied their cameras to capture the exact instant Ms. Schiff actually made contact with her target. The crowd that gathered anxiously stood by.
And then it happened. Karenna Gore Schiff reached up and — you got it — touched that big darn bell.
Wipe the tears from your eyes, try to catch your breath, quit blaming yourself for missing such an emotional event.
Did I hype the significance of Ms. Schiff giving a quick rub to the World Peace Bell? Hell's bells, does it really matter what Al Gore's daughter thinks about the bell?
Of course I did and of course it doesn't.
Ms. Schiff's visit was a “political event,” meaning it was staged to showcase one of the candidates without creating too much controversy or real news.
And the Democrats, God love 'em, especially the Campbell County Democrats, the last real holdouts of Democratic power in Northern Kentucky, are trying.
Even as the wheels appear to be coming off George W. Bush's campaign, the Republican candidate for president should carry Northern Kentucky like Shawn Alexander used to carry the pigskin at Boone County.
So that leaves Northern Kentucky Democrats holding events featuring Mr. Gore's daughter, not Mr. Gore.
Don't get me wrong. Ms. Schiff saved what could have been an absolute bomb of an event, shaking hands with everyone who attended, granting interviews with every reporter who wanted one and giving a mercifully brief speech that hit on all of her dad's good points as a politician and a father.
But why was this event held at the Peace Bell building instead of a place where Ms. Schiff could find some actual young voters she is trying to appeal to, say, Northern Kentucky University?
My guess is that with a crowd of under 200 the throng looked bigger when it was crammed into a room about the size of a good-sized public restroom.
And with Ms. Schiff's plane 45 minutes late, warming-up-the-crowd duties fell, by default, to Newport Mayor Tom Guidugli and former Campbell County Judge-executive Ken Paul. Sonny and Cher, they ain't, but, oh, how they tried.
At one point Mr. Guidugli started introducing members of the crowd, including people he described as his “neighbors.” He even mentioned statehouse candidate Jeb Holbrook, which marked the first — and probably last — time anyone in the Democratic party has paid any attention to Mr. Holbrook.
A housing activist from Covington named Sean McDonald tried to engage Mr. Guidugli in a discussion (or shouting match) about Newport's plans to level the city's riverfront projects and move the residents to another part of the community.
“You sound like a Republican,” Mr. McDonald said as the mayor addressed his concerns.
Tough words. At least he didn't disparage the bell.
Patrick Crowley covers Kentucky politics for the Enquirer. He can be reached at 578-5581, or (502) 875-7526 in Frankfort.
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