Thousands likely to attend Bush rally on BIA tarmac

BANGOR – Thousands of people signed up for tickets Monday to hear President Bush campaign on the tarmac at Bangor International Airport on Thursday.

The outdoor event, which starts at 4:15 p.m., may draw 10,000 people, according to Randy Bumps, executive director of the state Bush-Cheney campaign.

The weather forecast for Thursday is mostly sunny skies with highs in the mid-70s, according to the National Weather Service in Caribou.

“I don’t have a specific forecast for 4:15, but it’s looking pretty good,” said meteorologist Chris Norcross.

Monday was the first of three days that people wanting to attend the campaign rally were able to secure no-cost tickets and the demand has been “steady and overwhelming,” Bumps said.

“It has exceeded my expectations for the first day,” he said. “We already are seeing a statewide appeal for this event.”

But getting the tickets did not go without a hitch.

To secure tickets, interested attendees in the Bangor area must call a telephone number or fill out a form on the campaign Web site. After that, they can pick up their tickets at the intersection of Godfrey Boulevard and Maine Avenue near Bangor International Airport.

Statewide, tickets are available at campaign offices in Presque Isle, South Portland, Augusta and Lewiston.

The toll-free telephone number is (866) 633-2874. The Web site is www.MaineGOP.com.

Some people who dialed the toll-free number early Monday did not reach the campaign at first. By midmorning they were able to get through. Other ticket seekers may have forgotten to dial the area code and simply dialed the seven-digit number. Instead of getting the ticket line, they got the Boothbay Harbor School District.

“I certainly am sorry if anybody was inconvenienced,” Bumps said.

All prospective ticket holders are being asked if they support Bush’s re-election campaign or if they are undecided voters, and if they want to volunteer. Then each ticket seeker is required to provide his or her name, address, telephone numbers, birth date and Social Security number.

Guy Jones of Kossuth, an unorganized territory in northern Maine, said Monday he is “flabbergasted” that anyone would be required to fill out a form and give his or her Social Security number to attend a political rally.

“I’ll be frank and honest with you: I don’t think it’s right and neither does anybody else out this way,” Jones said. “We’ve never heard of this. Whatever happened to free speech and free assembly? I can’t believe this at all. You can’t even voice your opinion at a political rally without being screened and without giving out this personal document, your Social Security number, after we’ve been trained all of our lives never to give it out.”

Bumps said it’s a standard policy for people wanting to see President Bush to provide their Social Security number.

“I would encourage him to call, and we would discuss it with him,” Bumps said of Jones’ comments. “The requirement for submission of the Social Security number is the requirement of the Secret Service.”

Although ticket seekers are being asked if they support Bush, Bumps said people from other political parties are not being denied tickets.

“I cannot anticipate, except for security reasons, that anyone will be turned away,” Bumps said. “Anyone looking for a ticket who has an expressed desire to have an open mind about the election can get a ticket. That’s the whole point of bringing the president here, so he can talk directly to the people of Maine.”

Bumps said space for protesters and supporters to rally will be designated near the event’s site.

On Monday evening, the Bush campaign held what was billed as a “43” event. Forty-three volunteers manned phone banks on the 43rd day before the election, trying to convince people to vote for Bush, the 43rd president of the United States.