Nevada delegates excited to be in Boston

Suzanne Struglinski

Monday, July 26, 2004 | 9:42 a.m.

BOSTON -- Energy filled the room as Nevada's delegates to the Democratic National Convention kicked off the four-day event with a mix of enthusiasm and hope.

At their first official breakfast today, delegates talked about their excitement and predicted Kerry winning the state in November and taking the presidency.

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., is slated to accept the party's presidential nomination on Thursday. Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina will accept the vice-presidential nomination on Wednesday.

Delegate Dwayne Chestnut from Las Vegas said he was looking forward to the "second American Revolution" and delegate Ida Gaines, also from Las Vegas said she was excited "to be part of the history that's going to be made."

The delegates can attend a variety of events and workshops throughout the day before heading to the Fleet Center for the main speeches this afternoon.

Altria Group, the parent company of Kraft and Philip Morris sponsored the breakfast, held at the Lenox Hotel in Boston where most of the delegation is staying.

Convention organizers have made clear that this week is to learn more about Kerry and put him in the White House.

"This is the most important election in our lifetime," said Terry McAuliffe, chairman of the Democratic National Committee on Sunday. "When everybody leaves this convention they are going to leave with an assignment to get John Kerry and John Edwards elected."

The convention's theme "Stronger at home, respected in the world" will be broken into different themes each night, with tonight's being the "Kerry-Edwards Plan For America's Future."

Former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and former Vice President Al Gore are some of tonight's main speakers.

The delegates know where the Democrats and John Kerry stand on issues important to Nevada, like Yucca Mountain. Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., reminded attendees that Nevada is the only state to be specifically named in the party's platform, which will be adopted this week. The platform calls for a stop to the planned nuclear waste storage site at Yucca, 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

Nevada delegates think Yucca Mountain will be a deciding issue.

Delegate Edna Flores of Henderson said she was excited to be here this week and wants to "send Mr. Bush back to Crawford."

The city of Boston officially welcomed the delegation Sunday night with a party at the USS Constitution museum at the Navy Yard in the Charleston neighborhood. Delegates toured the historical ship, nicknamed Old Ironsides, after eating dinner inside the museum.

The city has been taken over by the 35,000 attendees here for the convention.

"It's nice to walk down the street and see other people who are Democrats," said former Nevada congressman James Bilbray.

Delegate Jim Wallace from Carson City said it's "nice to be around so many Democrats for a change."