Kerry In Reno

Read what the locals were concerned about prior to Big John's visit to Northern Nevada in the Reno Gazette-Urinal. I'll betcha the topics are different from what they're be in, oh, I don't know, Long Island, maybe? By the time I posted this he was long gone, but no news of his speech yet. There was a short bite on KOLO-TV about Yucca Mountain, and a couple of accidental cutaways back to Ed Pearce, the newsman, standing on the floor of The Lawlor Events Center at UNR while the clip was playing. He looked like he wanted to go home. Will update in the morning.

Update: 11:42pm OWT

Early report on Kerry's speech.

“God, it is good to be here,” said Kerry, who marveled at the view of the snow-covered Sierra Nevada as his plane landed at Reno-Tahoe International Airport.

“I saw Mt. Rose. I saw Slide Mountain. I saw the snow and said, ‘I’m in God’s country, this is great,’ ” he said.

“I always check the best bet when I come into Nevada. The best bet — single-deck blackjack. The worst bet, Bush’s health care plan — flu shots,” he said to cheers.

It is impressive to see it from the air. If it isn't God's country, at least you can see it from here.

“The only thing I want is for John Kerry to be elected and Bush thrown out,” said Janette Sherman, who came to see Kerry from her home in Truckee, Calif.

I don't know the gal, but she's definitely my homey.

More updates as the situation develops. Geez, sounds like I'm covering a train wreck. On the old B&C short line, maybe.