Though she is a woman of wealth and privilege, Heinz Kerry might technically be considered African-American, since she grew up in the Portuguese colony of Mozambique. She did refer to herself once as "a kid from the Third World" who saw Peace Corps volunteers as an inspiring "face of America."



Though she is a woman of wealth and privilege, Heinz Kerry might technically be considered African-American, since she grew up in the Portuguese colony of Mozambique. She did refer to herself once as "a kid from the Third World" who saw Peace Corps volunteers as an inspiring "face of America."

Teresa Heinz courts black ward leaders

By DAVE DAVIES

daviesd@phillynews.com

Just how important is Philadelphia's African-American vote to John Kerry?

Important enough that yesterday, five days before election, Teresa Heinz Kerry made a personal appeal to black ward leaders and elected officials to rally for her husband's cause.

"He needs your help desperately," Heinz Kerry told the Democratic leaders at Zanzibar Blue, in Center City. "Not on Tuesday, just. He needs your help to get things straightened out in this country. It's going to take all of us to really do the job.

"Laws alone don't do it. Money alone doesn't do it. You know that better than anybody," she said. "It's going to be work, love, hugs, being there and money, and leadership. John needs that, and I think Tuesday is when the work really starts."

Heinz Kerry spoke without notes, delivering the kind of stream-of-consciousness talk she's known for, moving through a wide range of subjects in a deliberate, almost subdued style.

It wasn't the fiery exuberance politicians often use to inspire Election Day enthusiasm. But Carol Campbell, a West Philadelphia ward leader, said the event was important for leaders of the 33 predominantly black wards.

"These ward leaders need this so they can go back to their workers and say, 'I saw her, I talked to her, I know firsthand how warm she is,' " said Campbell, chairwoman of the African-American Ward Leaders. "We're very emotional people, and these things matter."

Though she is a woman of wealth and privilege, Heinz Kerry might technically be considered African-American, since she grew up in the Portuguese colony of Mozambique. She did refer to herself once as "a kid from the Third World" who saw Peace Corps volunteers as an inspiring "face of America."

Perhaps most important, Heinz greeted and had pictures with every ward leader who wanted it. And she had a long conversation afterward with Campbell.

Heinz Kerry touched on Iraq, job creation, alternative energy, and education, but she seemed to connect best when speaking about her husband.

"He's a person with a heart," she said. "He's also a person that is idealistic and has a noble sprit, which sometimes can make him seem distant, but he's not. And then he had the good sense to marry a person like me."

When this story was posted in October 2004, this was on the front page of PCOL:

Kerry reaches out to Returned Volunteers The Kerry campaign wants the RPCV vote. Read our interview with Dave Magnani, Massachusetts State Senator and Founder of "RPCVs for Kerry," and his answers to our questions about Kerry's plan to triple the size of the Peace Corps, should the next PC Director be an RPCV, and Safety and Security issues. Then read the "RPCVs for Kerry" statement of support and statements by Dr. Robert Pastor, Ambassador Parker Borg, and Paul Oostburg Sanz made at the "RPCVs for Kerry" Press Conference. RPCV Carl Pope says the key to winning this election is not swaying undecided voters, but persuading those already willing to vote for your candidate to actually go to the polls. Take our poll and tell us what you are doing to support your candidate. Finally read our wrap-up of the eight RPCVs in Senate and House races around the country and where the candidates are in their races.

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Director Gaddi Vasquez: The PCOL Interview PCOL sits down for an extended interview with Peace Corps Director Gaddi Vasquez. Read the entire interview from start to finish and we promise you will learn something about the Peace Corps you didn't know before. Plus the debate continues over Safety and Security.

Schwarzenegger praises PC at Convention Governor Schwarzenegger praised the Peace Corps at the Republican National Convention: "We're the America that sends out Peace Corps volunteers to teach village children." Schwarzenegger has previously acknowledged his debt to his father-in-law, Peace Corps Founding Director Sargent Shriver, for teaching him "the joy of public service" and Arnold is encouraging volunteerism by creating California Service Corps and tapping his wife, Maria Shriver, to lead it. Leave your comments and who can come up with the best Current Events Funny?

Peace Corps: One of the Best Faces of America Teresa Heinz Kerry celebrates the Peace Corps Volunteer as one of the best faces America has ever projected in a speech to the Democratic Convention. The National Review disagreed and said that Heinz's celebration of the PCV was "truly offensive." What's your opinion and can you come up with a Political Funny?

Read the stories and leave your comments.