- Title: UNITED STATES: PHILADELPHIA PREPARES ITSELF FOR THE 2000 REPUBLICAN CONVENTION
- Date: 29th July 2000
- Summary: SV: BUSH SHAKING HANDS WITH SUPPORTERS PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, UNITED STATES (JULY 29, 2000) (REUTERS) SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) NICHOLSON SAYING: "Governor Bush needs to do what he's doing. He's lead in the polls just continues to widen because the more people get to know him, they get to like him." GV: STATUE, SKYLINE SLV: GENO'S CHEESESTEAK STAND SV: MAN ORDERING CHEESESTEAK SCU: WORKERS PREPARING CHEESESTAKES SV: (SOUNDBITE) (English) JOSEPH A. VENTO OWNER OF GENO'S SAYING: "I think it's great, it's super. It's great for everybody. A lot of money is going to be made. As far as that part goes." JOURNALIST ASKS "Has business picked up at all?" / VENTO SAYING: "Oh definitely, definitely, definitely. It's a nice atmosphere too. It's seems like it's very friendly so far. We haven't had any problems with anything. Everything seems to be moving traffic wise. I'm very impressed about that - I thought we were going to have some chaos there. Ultimately, I think it's great." SCU: CHEESESTEAKS BEING MADE PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, UNITED STATES (JULY 28, 2000) (REUTERS) WS: PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES BASEBALL TEAM PLAYERS PRACTICING BEFORE GAME SCU/BACK VIEW: PLAYERS HITTING BASEBALLS (2 SHOTS) SLV: PLAYER CATCHES BALL, THROWS BALL MV: BATTING COACH TALKING TO PLAYER SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) PHILLIES BASEBALL PLAYER DESI RELAFORD SAYING: "I guess it's just a lot of extra people here in the city here for the next three or four days - extra 45,000 people. Hell, I don't know to tell you the truth. I haven't really thought about it. I know it's just going to make the city a little more busy." JOURNALISTS ASKS "Have you given any thought to who you're going to vote for in November?" / RELAFORD SAYING: "Not even the slightest bit. Man, I'm sitting here struggling during the season- that's all I'm worried about." WS: PROTESTERS AT HEALTHCARE RALLY MV: PROTESTERS SHOUTING MV: JOURNALISTS AND ACTIVISTS BOARD BUS LV: JOURNALISTS AND ACTIVISTS RIDING ON BUS SCU; MAN DRIVING BUS TRAVELLING SHOT: PHILADELPHIA STREETS, POOR AREA SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) GALEN TYLER CHAIRMAN OF THE KENSINGTON WELFARE RIGHTS UNION SAYING: "I think the city is trying to give them an illusion that they're actually trying to fix some of the problems of the poor here in this community." WS/MV: R2K NEWS CONFERENCE (2 SHOTS) SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) R2K NETWORK PROTEST ORGANIZER AMY KWASNICKI SAYING: "None of us appreciate this invasion. We didn't ask these people to come. We do not agree with their presence here. And as we have no other choice, we will go out into the streets and use our bodies to keep these events from occurring."
- Embargoed: 13th August 2000 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: USA, United States
- Country: USA
- Topics: Crime,General,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAD2ALXCV8PVFNNOULCCEXZR583
- Story Text: Politicians, journalists and protesters are arriving en masse in the city of Philadelphia this weekend for the 2000 Republican Convention. Texas Governor George W. Bush is expected to be endorsed as the Republican party's official candidate for President of the United States.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, "City of Brotherly Love"- home of the cheesesteak, Liberty Bell, Rocky, the Declaration of Independence, and Phillies baseball. And now Philadelphia, known for its loyalty to Democrats and labour unions, will be home for at least one week to the Republican party.
Over the last few months, workers in the city have been busy sweeping, building and hoisting in preparation of the 2000 Republican Convention.
Republican National Committe Chairman Jim Nicholson told Reuters that the convention is "a convention is the closest thing as you can come in America has to a national town hall meeting."
The convention, which will nominate Texas Governor George W. Bush as the party's residential candidate, will bring 45,000 delegates, guests and journalists to Philadelphia for a program that runs Monday (July 31) to Thursday (Aug. 3).
Bush has climbed steadily in the polls recently, increasing the gap above his Democratic Al Gore in the race to get undecided swing voters.
Nicholson says all Bush "needs to do what he's doing" to attract voters. "He's lead in the polls just continues to widen because the more people get to know him, they get to like him," says Nicholson.
At one of Philadelphia's most famous cheesesteak stands locals and out of towners alike were queing up to get a taste of the city's favourite food. Owner Joseph Vento, a republican and Bush supporter, says he's happy the presidential candidate and the convention are in his town. "I think it's great, it's super. It's great for everybody," says Vento." A lot of money is going to be made."
Not everyone is as enthusiastic as Vento, however.
At Veterans Stadium, home of the Philadelphia Phillies professional baseball team, players were more concerned with improving their record than party and presidential politics.
"I haven't really thought about it," said Phillies Player Desi Relaford. "I know it's just going to make the city a little more busy."
Many in Philadelphia are actually upset that the conventions are being held in their town. A welfare activist group took journalists to some of the poorest neighbourhoods of Philadelphia on a media tour. Galen Tyler, Chairman of the Kensington Welfare Rights Union, thinks that Philadelphia is more concerned about giving the appearance of a clean city than actually solving its problems. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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