Democrats in N.Y. Showcase Swing Voters

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Delores Ramirez was a supporter of President Bush (news - web sites) in 2000, but on this muggy Sunday afternoon the retired Virginia businesswoman was standing on the steps of New York's City Hall with dozens of supporters of Democrat John Kerry (news - web sites) who just finished a weeklong tour of five states. She supported Bush in 2000 because she thought he would help her with her small business, but when asked if she is still a Republican, the 67-year-old Virginia Beach woman grinned and said: "I am a Democrat now, baby."


When her husband got ill several years ago and later died, they had trouble paying for his health care and "We came within three months of losing everything we had." About six dozen passengers on the "America Can Do Better" bus tour arrived in New York Sunday after traveling through Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania before coming to New York City.


They were greeted on a muggy and sunny afternoon by several New York politicians, including Sen. Chuck Schumer, Rep. Anthony Weiner (news, bio, voting record) and Speaker of the New York City Council Gifford Miller. As the crowd chanted "Kerry, Kerry" and Democratic slogans like "America can do better," Schumer said, "these average people know that George Bush (news - web sites) hasn't lived up to what he promised." Schumer said Bush has not kept his promises on funding education, helping older citizens get affordable prescription drugs and make adequate investments in homeland security.

Miller said New York City has been shortchanged in resources for homeland security — especially for first responders like firefighters and emergency workers.


"His first response was to send the money somewhere else," Miller said. "Those prairie dogs may be cute but they don't deserve more anti-terrorism money than New York City."

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