'Bill Bradley Week' Promises Fun and Games

In a flurry of pamphlets in front of the Science Center yesterday, the Harvard Students for Bill Bradley kicked off a week of dinners, tabling and parties aimed at building support for the Democratic presidential candidate.

"Bill Bradley Week" began yesterday with students passing out leaflets between classes. It will culminate next weekend in a trip to New Hampshire, where students will canvass for Bradley in preparation for the Democratic primaries there.

Then, last night, in a second floor dining room of Memorial Hall, the students held a dinner discussion with State Representative Mark J. Carron--the week's first "official" event.

This dinner, however, attracted no students outside of the two in charge of "Bill Bradley Week." It thus became what Harvard Students for Bill Bradley coordinator Luke P. McLoughlin '00 called an impromptu "policy meeting."

Before the meeting began, Carron--a self-described moderate Democrat representing a district in Worcester county--explained his early endorsement of Bradley.

"I don't jump on early for just anybody, but there is a freshness about him," Carron said.

Carron said he felt that Bradley would be a strong candidate for Massachusetts voters because of the state's strong liberal leanings. Bradley falls further to the left of Gore on a number of issues.

Carron called Bradley's chances for winning the Democratic nomination "absolutely incredible," saying he feels that as the primaries get closer, voters will begin thinking about the issues rather than simply choosing Gore as a default candidate.

The short-term goal of Bradley week is to get students to join in canvassing Manchester, N.H. this weekend, said Shai M. Sachs '01, who is coordinating the week's events.

This canvassing, billed as "Rally, Rock and Knock with Bill Bradley," will involve about 125 students from local colleges traveling to the site of the first primary for a "weekend of grassroots campaigning," according to the Bradley campaign.

At the end of the canvassing, volunteers will be rewarded with a concert by a local rock band--the "Rock" of the event's title.

The last canvassing effort in New Hampshire, which took place over Columbus Day weekend, attracted 35 Harvard students, McLoughlin said.

McLoughlin, who is from Newton, Mass., says he does not consider himself a political person. However, after reading about Bradley this summer, he decided to take part in a July canvassing effort that knocked on 35,000 doors in New Hampshire.

"I really like Bradley and believe he's the right guy," McLoughlin said.

Tonight, Bill Bradley week continues with a dinner discussion with State Representative Paul Demakis (D-Cambridge), from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. in the Quincy House private dining room. The discussion is open to all students.

There will also be a dinner discussion on Friday with State Representative Charles Murphy (D-Bedford), in Cabot House private dining room from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m.

Tomorrow's events include "Thousand-Sticker Extravaganza" from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. outside the science center, a viewing of the A&E biography of Bill Bradley at 6 p.m. in Mather House senior common room, and a poster-making party from 8-11 p.m. in Leverett House junior common room.

There is also a lighter side of Students for Bradley. On Friday they will be hosting a "rager" in New Quincy or another house for supporters, McLoughlin said.

"I want everyone to have a good time also," he said.