Celebrities stump for candidates

By Hanna LoPatin

Daily Staff Reporter

As the fun-loving, neurotic redhead she plays on the NBC show "Will and Grace," Debra Messing is rarely featured dealing with issues more important than which of her two boyfriends she should dump.

But Messing became politically active long before she took the role on the Emmy-winning show.

Showcasing her activism Saturday afternoon at the Michigan Union, Messing campaigned for Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore.

Messing said when she was in college, graduates did not have the opportunities they have had during the prosperous years of the Clinton and Gore administration.

"I think having that experience is incredibly important for the college kids to support Al Gore and all the progress that has been made over the last eight years," she said after speaking to a room of more than 70 students.

Messing is just one of many celebrities to stump for Gore during the past few weeks. Jon Bon Jovi played at a rally in Warren yesterday, and the Goo Goo Dolls accompanied the vice president to Flint two weeks ago.

"One of the things that I didn't expect to happen to me this year is that Jon Bon Jovi would be introducing me," said Gore's running mate, Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, who along with his wife Hadassah joined Al and Tipper Gore at the Warren rally.

Bon Jovi would not talk politics with reporters but did tell the audience, "I've never been to a political rally before, but obviously I felt strong enough to be here."

After performing a slow, acoustic rendition of "Livin' on a Prayer," Bon Jovi said, "I wrote that song during the Reagan era and the trickle-down economics are really inspirational to writing songs, so I don't really need to write songs like that anymore. I want to write really upbeat happy prosperous songs about what's going to be happening right now today and tomorrow."

LSA junior Alicia Johnson, who chairs the University's Students for Gore chapter, said celebrity campaigning is a good way to attract "a different group of people."

"Honestly, it's cool as hell," Johnson said. "He's getting the youth vote out there."

But while Gore has been bringing Hollywood to the Midwest, his opponent, George W. Bush, has been digging his support from Washington, D.C.

Former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Colin Powell has made numerous campaign appearances with Bush.

Two weeks ago, the Texas governor began the "'W' Stands for Women" tour in Michigan, featuring his wife Laura, foreign policy advisor Condoleezza Rice, vice presidential candidate Dick Cheney's wife Lynne, and his mother, former first lady Barbara.

His well-respected mother was the highlight of the first day's event, receiving the largest applause from a crowd of 500 supporters in Southfield.

"He's surrounded himself with strong, wise women," Barbara Bush said. "He will be an outstanding president."

Bush's father, former President George Bush, spoke in front of about 1,800 people in Holland last Monday.

"If we can carry Michigan, George W. Bush will be the next president of the United States. Please continue working hard on his behalf," Bush said. "If our son is elected president, I will indeed be the happiest, proudest father in the United States."

NORMAN NG/Daily

Vice President Al Gore speaks to a crowd in Warren yesterday, accompanied by running mate Joe Lieberman, Senate candidate Debbie Stabenow and Gore's wife, Tipper.