Kerry’s daughter visits Henderson

Kirsten Searer

Monday, Oct. 25, 2004 | 9:39 a.m.

When she saw it, Vanessa Kerry, daughter of Democratic presidential contender John Kerry, gave Reynolds a big hug and said her father was running to help families such as hers.

Kerry visited Henderson on Sunday to rally volunteers and tell them that her father is set on "returning hope to the country and, frankly, the world."

"If we win this state, we can win this presidency," Kerry said to a crowd that chanted, "Kerry! Kerry!"

Kerry, who has taken time from school to campaign for her father, inked "Go Red Sox" on her calf, saying she was sorry she and her father didn't have time to attend World Series games and root for their favorite team.

But she said she was attending to more important matters. The future of the U.S. Supreme Court, Social Security and the environment -- including Yucca Mountain -- all would be different under her father than under President Bush, Kerry said.

Later, the medical student said she believes her father's plans for health care would ease the strain on doctors paying high malpractice insurance rates. Kerry, she said, would create a third-party, independent group to evaluate if medical malpractice cases should go to court, and he would limit punitive damages.

John Kerry is known for performing well under pressure, and Vanessa Kerry said she has seen her father bear down for the final days of the election.

"Certainly you get more focused, the energy gets more intense," she said.

Reynolds said she blames the Bush administration for the overhaul of overtime rules, and she hopes John Kerry will reinstate overtime for workers such as her husband, who operates an asphalt plant and earns about half of his salary through overtime hours.

She couldn't take her kids to and from school and activities such as karate and sign language classes if she were working again, Reynolds said. She also wants to be home while they are in difficult teenage years, she said.

"I'm afraid," she said. "I don't want to go back to work."

Children who made signs Sunday can use them at a rally Tuesday featuring John Kerry. It is free and the public can attend without tickets.

The rally will be held at Jaycee Park, 2100 E. St. Louis Ave. Gates will open at 11:30 a.m. and free parking and shuttles will be available at the former Castaways Casino at Fremont Street and Atlantic Street. Kerry supporters can enter the parking lot from Atlantic Street.

Musician Sheryl Crow, actor John Cusack and James Hoffa, the president of the International Teamsters Union, also will appear at the rally.

For more information on the rally, go to www.johnkerry.com /lasvegas or call (866) 737-DEMS.