Dean faithful turn out in Tacoma

With Washington now must-win territory for the former Vermont governor, he continued his full-court press on Democrats here with stops in Spokane and Tacoma.


		Mike Urban / P-I
	Democratic presidential hopeful Howard Dean signs campaign posters after speaking at Tacoma's historic Pantages Theater yesterday. Washington state is now must-win territory for Dean.

With a promise to "take back the country," Dean's hope of taking back the campaign hinges on massive support from Washington Democrats in the caucuses Saturday. About 600 fervent supporters rallied for him at the Pantages Theater in Tacoma yesterday.

He hammered away at his trademark themes of fighting the establishment and special interests. And the crowd ate it up.

"Do you want real change in this country or do you just want to shift the power to someone else in Washington?" Dean asked. "I want real change."

While Dean glad-handed the crowd to the beat of Sheryl Crow's "A Change will do you Good," 22-year-old Atiyan Palmer said his message went over well with her.

She was particularly moved by his promise of nationalized health care and a stronger social service safety net.

"He shared with us the promise of a new America," she said.

Dean accused Bush of dividing the country.

"I'm tired of being divided by race in this country," Dean said. "I am tired of being divided by gender when the president thinks he ought to tell American women what kind of reproductive health care they ought to have. I'm tired of being divided by sexual orientation and I'm tired of being divided by religion. I'm tired of being divided by income. When we say we want our country back we're saying we want our president to begin to appeal to the very best of us and stop appealing to the very worst in us."


		Mike Urban / P-I
	Tim Gates of Olympia sports a Dean sticker on the back of his head. Gates later shook hands with Dean after Dean spoke in Tacoma.

Volunteer Gilbert Myers, 57, wearing a Dr. Seuss-style blue hat covered with Dean campaign buttons, said, "He's got a lot of fresh ideas, and he doesn't owe favors to anyone."

Myers said he chose Dean three months ago after careful consideration, and then decided to become active in the campaign.

"He has good ideas for health care," said Myers. "He said he could fund health care for all the people who need it for what it costs for the war in Iraq."

David Bonsor, 20, had been pounding the pavement in downtown Tacoma all afternoon looking for a job. He said he'll vote for Dean because "he's for the people and making things better. I'm here to hear what he has to say."

"He's refreshingly candid," said Kathleen Geller, 63, of Graham. "I like what I've seen so far, and I don't want the Republican alternative.

"Anyone would be better than Bush."

More headlines and info from Tacoma.