You know your chances suck when you have to
pay people at attend your rally. Well, that's what Doug Forrester is finding out.
As Doug Forrester accepted the endorsement of a black minister on a Newark street corner yesterday, more than 100 local residents were on hand to hold up campaign signs and cheer him on.
According to more than half a dozen of them, they had been promised $20 apiece for their enthusiasm.
"I don't know a whole lot about who is running, but they are offering $20 and I came out to work for whoever needs help," said Sheree Baker, 50, of Newark.
Shakirah Jones, 22, also said she was promised $20 "to scream out his name, I guess."
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One woman who asked her name not be used said, "they told us we were going to come down here for an hour and we would get paid, period. I have a family to get home to." She said she was one of dozens of people who were driven on two buses from Forrester's local campaign office in Vailsburg to the event. She said she was stranded without a ride home. Her account was echoed by three others.
Forrester's campaign was quick to cover itself.
Sherry Sylvester, Forrester's campaign spokeswoman, said that "about 40" local residents in Newark were paid $20 yesterday for hanging up signs, knocking on doors and putting literature in mailboxes. She said they attended the rally voluntarily.
"They were paid $20 for the work," Sylvester said. "No one was paid to attend the rally."
Sure.