Wednesday, December 17, 2003
Dean draws 500 at Sierra Vista rally
Dean wants health care for all Americans.
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By Joseph Barrios
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
SIERRA VISTA - The "doctor" was in and hundreds of supporters turned out to see him.
More than 500 people crammed into an airplane hangar Tuesday to cheer on Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean. They waived American flags, wore buttons and held signs that read "The doctor is in."
Dean, a physician and former Vermont governor, gave a nod to Fort Huachuca, saying it "produced the people who caught Saddam Hussein and we ought to thank them. If we have a group of people here that can do that, then that is a military base that we will not close."
Dean's speech here came after a stop in Sun City near Phoenix, where he picked up the endorsement of former Arizona governor and secretary of the interior Bruce Babbitt.
Before Dean took the stage, several speakers mentioned Dean's past criticism of President Bush's handling of fighting in Iraq. Dean said he didn't think Bush was "candid" when he sent soldiers to Iraq.
Dean said he supported the first Gulf War and the war in Afghanistan because it was a response to "an attack on us."
But Dean touched on several other topics. He called for more government support of small businesses and for health insurance for all Americans.
He reminded people of how everyone under age 18 in Vermont, where he was governor for five terms, now has health coverage and went down a list of other countries that offer health coverage for all.
"We should, too," Dean said.
Arizona's primary is Feb. 3.
Larry Johnson, a Huachuca City resident who served in the military, was skeptical of Dean at first, but saw promise. So he went to the rally to get some "questions answered."
Johnson's vote isn't locked up yet, but Dean did sway him. He likes Dean's stance on Medicare and health insurance for all people.
"He presented himself excellently. I wouldn't say I'm going to vote for him 100 percent, but he impressed me enough to make me change my mind on some things," Johnson said.
* Contact reporter Joseph Barrios at 573-4241 or jbarrios@azstarnet.com.
