Kerry supporters heckle Bush HQ opening

Kirsten Searer

Friday, April 2, 2004 | 9:46 a.m.

Bush-Cheney supporters met Thursday to open their new Nevada headquarters, but speakers had a difficult time being heard over protesters who assembled to support John Kerry.

At times, while state Treasurer Brian Krolicki and Secretary of State Dean Heller gave messages in support of the president, groups supporting Bush and Kerry tried to out-yell each other.

About 25 protesters clad in yellow union T-shirts chanted "Bush lies, America dies," "Outsource Bush" and "No more Bush," as Krolicki gave a message saying that Bush has helped create jobs, lower taxes and make the nation more secure.

One protester was dressed in a joker's outfit left over from a previous demonstration on Thursday, when Democrats rallied to celebrate April Fool's Day, saying Bush has played a joke on Americans by running up a deficit and pushing Yucca Mountain.

At one point at the Bush headquarters, Krolicki said to the raucous protesters: "I'd like to invite our friends in the yellow shirts -- there's some pizza left over." Other Bush supporters tried to offer the protesters sodas.

After the rally, Krolicki forecast a tight election in Nevada, but said he thinks more Bush supporters could be won over in the coming months as economic indicators such as the unemployment rate continue to improve.

Kathryn Balmos, a Las Vegas stay-at-home mom, brought her 20-month-old daughter to the rally. She predicted that Nevada won't have as close an election as some have said.

"I think at the end of the day in a 9-11 world, people are going to feel less secure if they change the leadership," she said.