Democratic Debate at UNH 12/9/03
See all the pictures: click here.

You could hear the din from a quarter mile away last night as supporters rallied around the candidate arrivals at Johnson Theater on the UNH campus in Durham. Several thousand cheering, yelling, and sign waving souls braved sub freezing temperatures to give their respective presidential candidates encouragement as they made their way down College Avenue to the theater for the nationally televised Democratic Primary Candidates Debate.
Hundreds were bussed in from all over New England to hold signs and perhaps catch a glimpse of their favorite. Some of the candidates, such as Howard Dean walked the length of the Avenue shaking hands and offering brief comments on the way to the theater. General Wesley Clark was driven right up to the entrance where he hopped out and was hustled right inside.
About 600 folks attended the debate inside the theater. Many other sites on campus had TV sets tuned to the action. The two theaters at the MUB were both showing the debate as was the large screen just outside the theaters. While not exactly jam-packed, the theaters were well attended and the watchers were boisterous in their responses to what was being said.
Following the debate the candidates were expected at the "Spin Room" set up in a nearby building. I tried to get in but my homemade press pass didn't quite fill the bill (even though it had a nice picture on it as well as the SPR logo). I was told that I needed "credentials". To get the credentials I would have to go over to another building and see a certain person who would check me out. I was led to believe that there was little chance of getting in at this late date. Nevertheless, I went over and somehow managed to slip through the crack between the worlds and left with my bonafides.
Back at the Spin Room I proceeded to set up my equipment, which consisted of taking the lens cap off of my camera and pushing the "on" button.
As the debate wound down the room started to fill up with press people. Cameras, note pads, tape recorders, and other devices all at the ready. Anticipation filled the room as the debate ended and word arrived that the candidates were on the way.
One by one they arrived. First Congressman Kucinich, who gave an impromptu press conference as he came into the room. Then Senator Kerry who was immediately whisked by people from MSNBC to a small stage where he was interviewed by an unseen major network anchor. As the other candidates arrived the room became so packed that I could hardly move. All of the candidates were posing for pictures or talking with the press at various locations around the room and the result was akin to a late night barroom with jostling and everyone talking loudly in order to be heard.
I managed to talk briefly with Kucinich and he held up the SPR bumper sticker to be photographed.
At one point I made my way over to where General Clark was working the room. When he finally turned my way I asked him, "General Clark, do you think that leaders who authorize the use of weapons of mass destruction should be charged with war crimes?". He replied, "I would decide that on a case by case basis." I asked, "As President, would you use weapons of mass destruction?" The General stated, "I would keep a nuclear deterrence. I would do whatever was necessary."

See all the pictuures: click here.

Story and pictures by Paul Pat Morse

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