Kerrey fails to impress N.H. students

DURHAM, N.H. -- Like many residents of New Hampshire these days, Jennifer Kirchmyer has grown accustomed to hearing the Democratic presidential hopefuls inundate listeners with their campaign rhetoric. Kirchmyer, a freshman at the University of New Hampshire, said yesterday she has attended speeches by almost every Democratic candidate vying for victory in today's primary election. Like many of this state's voters, she feels she has not witnessed anything from any of the five remaining candidates to convince her which way to vote. So after Nebraska Sen. Bob Kerrey delivered a non-descript stump speech during a quick stop on this rustic campus yesterday afternoon, Kirchmyer was as undecided as ever. "I'm leaning more towards . . . I don't know," she said afterwards with a laugh of frustration. Introduced to the crowd of about 300 students and area residents with the Jesus Jones song, "Right Here Right Now" pulsing from the sound system, Kerrey trotted on stage a little after noon to deliver a wide-ranging speech that was short on details. Kerrey, who is battling Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin for a distant 3rd place in the polls, focused in general terms on such issues as national health insurance, the environment and abortion rights. But except for the fact that he was speaking to a group of college students on a college campus, Kerrey gave no inidication of having any interest in the problems facing higher education. While rattling off a long list of broad plans he said he would support as president, Kerrey's only mention of higher education was to assure the audience that he would fight to give everyone a chance to attend college -- without saying how he would do this. He devoted much of his speech to criticizing President Bush on several counts, including his failure to develop a plan for national health insurance and his support of restricting abortion. Kerrey also stressed the need to recycle and increase energy efficiency, warning that "our desire for material goods can blind us of the need to care of the earth." Matthew Baldi, a senior at New Hampshire, said he was "sort of leaning toward Kerrey," but could not say exactly why. He quickly added that he was actually "pretty undecided." Like several students interviewed before and after the speech, Baldi said he turned out for the event both "for the excitement" and to find out more about Kerrey. "Part of it is the excitement of it all," he acknowledged. "But a lot of it is the issues. I think most students here realize there is a lot at stake in this election." Chan Cousins and Dale Pariseau, both New Hampshire seniors, said they were impressed with Kerrey's concern with the environment and added that they felt he was the only Democratic candidate capable of beating Bush in November. Kerrey landed a double-blow on Bush for the troubles of the middle class and the President's stance in favor of restricting abortion rights. "George Bush is a guy who is trying to get into our bedrooms before he even lets us own a home," he said. Kerrey also lashed out at Vice President Dan Quayle, modifying the joke that Bush was born on third base and thought he had hit a triple. "Quayle was born on third base and thought he hit a field goal," he said.