Part I was about Kerry hanging out in Mt. Horeb, WI at the time he was just starting to make his big push. This story is a return to WIsconsin, specifically the phenomenal rally this week. An interesting sidestory played out that I haven't seen recorded here that speaks to me about the spirit of this campaign.
Springsteen Drops in for Kerry Rally--and a Beer
Matea Gold,
Los Angeles Times
MADISON, Wis. -- The residents of 508 West Washington Ave. were already psyched when they realized that a massive rally with Sen. John F. Kerry and Bruce Springsteen would take place on their street this afternoon.
When the rock star's trailer parked right in front of their house, Danya Bader-Natal -- one of the seven University of Wisconsin seniors who live in the gray wooden house -- scrawled a message in green marker on a flattened box and hung it from their second-story balcony: "Bruce come up for a beer."
"We thought he might see it and laugh, but we definitely didn't think he'd actually come over," said roommate Vivian Intermont.
On his way back to his trailer after playing a short set before a crowd of 80,000 people, the singer pointed at the sign with a grin. And, much to their shock, he took the students up on their invitation.
Along with his wife, Patti Scialfa, Springsteen clambered up the stairs, tripping over a jumble of computer cords stretched across a doorway, and joined the roommates and their friends on a balcony cluttered with beach chairs and boxes of artichoke pizza. The stunned students handed the rock legend a bottle of Capital Amber and for the next 20 minutes, he hung out with them as the Democratic candidate spoke on stage down the street....
Springsteen spent most of the time leaning on the balcony railing, listening intently to Kerry's speech, but before he departed, he posed for photos and signed several Kerry-Edwards signs.
"I'm going to remember this the rest of my life," swore Emily Fischer, 21, who had just finished a French test on campus...
"He's like a wise old guy that our parents listen to," Intermont added. "I called my mom already. She was like, 'I don't believe it!'"
As for knowing the score, Springsteen made a few informal remarks that may be the best speech of this election season:
As a songwriter, I've written about America for 30 years. I've tried to write about who we are, what we stand for, what we fight for. I believe that these essential ideals of American identity are what's at stake on November 2nd.... I believe that Senator Kerry honors these ideals. He has lived our history over the past 50 years, has an informed adult view of America and its people.... And he's shown us starting as a young man that by facing America's hard truths, both the good and the bad, that that's where we find a deeper patriotism, that's where we find a more complete view of who we are... That's why I'm here today to stand alongside Senator Kerry and to tell you that the country we carry in our hearts is waiting. And together we can move America together towards her deepest ideals.