I met Diana Kerry (one of John's two younger sisters) last July as she made a five-day swing through Montana. Due to the efforts of the Montana Democratic Party, Diana is back this week, but this time rather than talking to the small town liberals in western Montana, Kerry will tour four of our state's Indian reservations, the Rocky Boy, Fort Belknap, Blackfeet, and Salish-Kootenai.
Montana is home to more Native Americans than any other state other than Alaska and Arizona, and the Indian vote can be very critical in statewide elections. Although Montana's Native Americans tend to vote democratic, their voter turnout can be low. Diana Kerry will talk about John Kerry's views on tribal sovereignty, health care and education; issues that are very important to Indian Nations.
This year, turnout will be even more important due to the newly drawn state legislative districts, which should favor Native American candidates for legislature. Montana republicans bitterly opposed the state's supposedly democratically favorable redistricting, (even losing a major lawsuit before the state supreme court) especially concerning the new districts for Indian reservations.
I am greatly encouraged that state and national dems are clever enough to target Native Americans with a visit from a John Kerry surrogate. That and the 700 plus Kerry-Edwards yard signs (and ZERO Bush-Cheney signs) here in the capital city gives me real hope this November in this purple (not red!) state.