UpNorth Forum: Leading Democrats and Presidential Hopefuls in Lake Placid

Presidential hopefuls and other Democratic luminaries gathered in Lake Placid over the weekend for a rally held by New York’s Democratic Rural Conference. The group hopes to focus attention on rural issues—everything from farm policy to poverty to acid rain. As Brian Mann reports, the gathering was also a chance for Democrats to test their stump speeches, as they try to win back small-town America.

At this weekend’s gathering of Democratic party hopefuls in Lake Placid, former Vermont Governor Howard Dean was definitely the "hometown" favorite. He brought with him large group of supporters, who waved banners and cheered his speech. Here’s an excerpt of his statements.

Former Senator and presidential candidate George McGovern appeared at this weekend’s gathering of Democratic party hopefuls. McGovern is now an activist and an author, working to reduce hunger in the world. He spoke eloquently about farmers who face hard times. Here’s an excerpt of his statements.

Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich hopes to win the Democratic party's progressive wing. His rural policy would focus on battling corporate agriculture. Kucinich says he would win back Green party voters lost to Ralph Nader in 2000. Kucinich spoke with reporters over the weekend while in Lake Placid.

Massachusetts Senator John Kerry also hopes to carry the Democratic Party standard into the 2004 presidential campaign. In his appearance before a rural Democrats gathering in Lake Placid, he took aim at Bush policies and outlined his own plans for the nation's education system.

Connecticut Senator Joe Leiberman visited Albany shortly after several other Democratic Presidential hopefuls addressed a rural issues forum in Lake Placid. Here are excerpts from his remarks.