Women urged to get out the vote for Kerry

Spokane area women were urged Sunday to do more than just vote on Nov. 2 if they want to have an impact on the election.

They should contact five friends, neighbors or relatives and make sure they vote, too, said speakers at a Women for Kerry rally in downtown Spokane.

It’s part of what Democrats call their “Take Five” strategy.

Similar messages will be repeated for the next nine days by members of both political parties and all candidates’ campaigns as the nation approaches what most people believe is a close election for president and many other offices.

All furiously are recruiting volunteers to make phone calls, knock on doors and do anything else they can to make sure voters get to the polls or mail in their absentee ballots.

On Sunday, the Democrats tried to energize women, where they traditionally hold an edge, to work for presidential nominee John Kerry and others down the ballot.

State Sen. Lisa Brown of Spokane told a crowd of about 150 people – most, but not all, of them women – that they obviously have made their decision.

But that’s not enough, Brown said at the rally across from the Fox Theater on West First Avenue. “You have to reach out to other people.”

Erin Saberi, an official with the Democratic Coordinated Campaign, said a similar rally was held in Seattle and other events are planned throughout the state before the election.

Some volunteers will be taking a day off from their jobs on Election Day to work on the campaign, she said.