GRAND RAPIDS - Three men at a rally for Democratic presidential hopeful Al Gore on Thursday afternoon said they felt like tourists.
They say they’re interested in U.S. politics - but are not American citizens.
The men, along with hundreds of high school students in attendance, came to rally behind the vice president’s message even though most won’t even be able to fill out a ballot in November’s general election.
But that doesn’t hinder their enthusiasm.
“I’ve never seen anything like this before,” said Honorio Hernandez, a Grand Rapids resident and a Mexico native. “All my life I wanted to learn more about the politics of this country.”
He came to the United States three years ago to learn the English language and to enroll in college.
“I watch politics on TV, but I don’t understand all the English,” said Grand Rapids resident Danilo Miyasato, who hails from Brazil.
Hernandez, Miyasato and friend Miguel Abraham are taking an English adult education class. Their teacher gave them tickets to the rally.
They were three of more than 5,000 who braved frigid 45-degree weather to attend the 30-minute rally at the Calder Plaza in Grand Rapids.
Gore began his speech listing goals he intends to achieve in office. He plans to provide tax cuts to parents for child-care costs, create a refundable after-school tax credit and provide tax relief to parents who stay at home with their children.
Gore visited a child-care facility in Grand Rapids before his campaign rally to speak at greater length about his plan. Education and family are still his number one priorities, but similar to other recent debates, the candidate did not detail his plan for higher education.
“I will balance the budget every year, put Social Security in a lock box not to let it be used for anything else, and I will give the middle class tax cuts and strengthen families,” Gore said.
“I won’t always be the more exciting politician like Jennifer Granholm,” Gore said, praising Michigan’s Democratic attorney general. “But I’ll do the best job I can.”
Granholm, who gave an energetic introduction for Gore, endorsed not only the vice president, but the eight-year Clinton administration as well.
“I’m so sure Gore is the right man for the job,” she said. “I have a top 10 list of reasons why.”
Just look at the sports prosperity, she jested.
“While Al Gore was vice president, the University of Michigan won a national football championship and Michigan State became the national basketball champs,” Granholm said.
But the No. 1 reason Gore is a better candidate than GOP rival Texas Gov. George W. Bush, Granholm said, is because he’s going to win West Michigan.
Gore’s speech ended with a call, especially to youth, “to open your hearts and without reservation believe we can make things better.”
Fireworks, flares and ribbon cannons provided an explosive ending. Many fans held “Teamsters for Gore” and “Firemen for Gore” signs.
The pre-speech entertainment and introductions, which included former Gov. James Blanchard, lasted about two hours. Before Gore’s speech, Glenn Frey, former lead singer of The Eagles, performed for an hour to an enthusiastic audience.
A group of Mona Shores High School students were interested in hearing Gore’s message.
“I watched the whole debate the other night,” said Tara Torgeson, 17, of Muskegon, speaking of Tuesday’s presidential forum. “I will not be able to vote for some time, but either way, the new president will affect me in some way.”
But if she could vote, Torgeson said she would probably support Bush, because “I like Bush’s idea about young people being able to put their own money away for retirement.”
But she was likely in the minority Thursday.
Sara Steffen, an accounting senior at Grand Valley State University, said she skipped class Thursday to lend Gore her support.
“I also want to be able to say I saw the president,” she said. “When he’s elected.”
