Letter: President would have no trouble filling large arena

Monday, Aug. 23, 2004 | 8:58 a.m.

I was discouraged by Virgil Sestini's Aug. 16 letter headlined, "Bush avoided meeting residents." There are several kinds of political events -- large rallies, town hall meetings -- and smaller, more intimate events such as the one President Bush attended in Las Vegas. The president chose to honor a union training facility and the opportunities it affords our laborers.

John Kerry chose to spotlight himself at the Thomas & Mack Center in front of residents and many tourists who were offered tickets outside the Bellagio and other Strip casinos. John Kerry is a candidate, but George W. Bush is the president of the United States and therefore security is much tighter at his events. Tickets cannot be passed out on the street because of security concerns.

I am curious why Mr. Sestini does not complain about the front-porch meetings Sen. Kerry conducts in people's front yards. The porch meetings are informal and considerably smaller than the event Bush attended in Las Vegas. Earlier this summer, the president had a large rally in Reno. Many Las Vegans, including myself, attended.

The event in Las Vegas was attended by 1,300 supporters and laborers. Having thousands of screaming fans in a huge building would have taken the focus off of the training center.

President Bush said he hopes to return to Nevada before the election and I look forward to an event where more people can be inspired by his words. If numbers are Mr. Sestini's biggest concern, I can assure him President Bush would have no problem filling a large facility like the Thomas & Mack.

FRANCY JOHNSON