N.H. voters say Kerry's appeal is his ability to get elected
August 10, 2003 - Associated Press - by Anne Saunders


Sen. John Kerry's strength as a Democratic primary candidate is that he is electable, some voters said as Kerry campaigned in the state Saturday.

Kerry was mobilizing his presidential campaign forces with his largest canvassing effort in the state to date.

More than 300 supporters, including many from his native Massachusetts, went door- to-door in Manchester, Concord, Derry, Dover and Nashua. Kerry urged them on at a morning appearance at his Manchester headquarters.

"I want you to take common sense out there to the streets today; I want you to take fundamental fairness," the Democratic presidential hopeful said of his message to voters.

One supporter who attended a house party for Kerry in Hopkinton said he would rather vote for former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, but felt Kerry was more likely to get elected. He didn't want to see a replay of the 2000 presidential election when Ralph Nader took votes from Democratic candidate Al Gore, allowing George Bush to take the White House, he said.

Kerry knocked on the doors of several Democrats living in large, well-kept homes in Manchester's north end, answering questions about his positions on affordable housing and the war in Iraq.

Elliott Berry, a legal aid lawyer, said he has not settled on a candidate. What impresses him most about Kerry is his experience, he said.

"He has the appearance of being highly electable," Berry said.

Many other voters said the same thing.