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Kerry may consider Pasco stop

County Democrats say a rally here could be a huge success and have been trying to set a September date.

U.S. Sen. John Kerry, the leading Democratic candidate for president, might be making an appearance in Pasco County in September, Pasco County Democratic Executive Committee Chairwoman LaVaunne Miller said Wednesday.

"We're doing our best to get him here," Miller said. "We think it would be a huge success."

Miller said Louise Hinkley, president of the Pasco County Democratic Women's Club, has been in contact with Kerry's campaign about firming up a date in September for a possible rally and fundraiser for the Massachusetts senator.

Mark Kornblau, a Kerry spokesman, said he couldn't confirm any campaign stops four months off. But he didn't rule out the possibility.

"I am sure that John Kerry will be spending a great deal of time in Florida, touching every corner of the state," Kornblau said.

With 250,468 registered voters, Pasco County has grown to be the 12th largest county in the state in terms of voter registration, according to recent Florida secretary of state figures. Thirty-eight percent of the Pasco voters are Democrats, 40 percent are Republicans. Twenty-two percent have another party affiliation or none at all.

In a battleground state such as Florida, those numbers can make all the difference.

"They need to be paying attention to us," Miller said.

George W. Bush visited Pasco-Hernando Community College's New Port Richey campus during his 2000 campaign. And the late Sen. Paul Tsongas made a brief, low-key stop at the Saddlebrook Resort during his 1992 bid for the presidency.

For the past 20 years, the candidate who won Pasco County became president, with the exception of the 2000 election.

Democrat Al Gore received 982 more popular Pasco County votes than Bush that year.