Bush sister stumps in Maine

BANGOR – The daughter of a former president and the sister of the current president, Doro Bush Koch went door-to-door in Maine over the weekend urging voters to re-elect her brother.

In Presque Isle and later in Bangor on Saturday, Bush Koch, her sister-in-law Trisha Koch and campaign officials went to a handful of residences to speak to voters who in the past have filed absentee ballots. Campaign volunteers canvassed many more homes earlier and organizers said efforts to reach out to Republican absentee voters and undecided voters would continue until Election Day.

The visit by the president’s sister came a day after an Associated Press poll showed that Democratic contender Sen. John Kerry gained a slim lead over President Bush, who four years ago lost Maine to Al Gore. Bush Koch said that Maine is looking stronger for Republicans.

“From what I hear, from all of our campaign workers, things are looking better than they’ve ever looked in this state,” she said.

Bush Koch said she was the “lucky one” for being selected to canvass during her brief stay.

She liked the colored leaves but she acknowledged that it wasn’t leaf peeping that brought her group to Maine, but to bolster support for the Republican ticket.

“Maine is really crucial and the president wants to win it,” she said as she stopped between houses.

In Bangor on Saturday afternoon, the first visit had been the Forest Avenue home of Peter and Shannon Cook, who said they knew Bush Koch was going to be in the area.

“It’s not every day that you get a chance to meet someone related to the president,” said Peter Cook, who works in public relations.

The couple told the Bush canvassers what they wanted to hear: that they intended to back the president for a second term.

“Well, thank you for your vote, we really appreciate that,” Bush Koch said.

Cook said later that he’s usually a split-ticket voter but already made up his mind to back Bush about two months ago when Sen. John Kerry picked trial lawyer John Edwards as his running mate. Stung by a lawsuit himself, Cook said he was soured on the idea of supporting Edwards, who he doesn’t think will do much to make necessary changes in the legal system.

“I knew that by doing that [tapping Edwards as running mate] that tort reform was all but dead,” he said.

For Cook, the appearance of Bush Koch shows how important Maine, a state known for its independence, has become.

“Our humble little state is being recognized,” he said.