Curt Schilling wasn't supposed to pitch again this year, but he made a surprise appearance with President Bush Monday morning in Ohio and was also expected to accompany the president to Pennsylvania later in the day. The Red Sox pitcher, who canceled a scheduled campaign stop with Bush in New Hampshire last week, saying he was unable to travel because of his ankle injury, is also endorsing the incumbent on automated phone calls in three battleground states.
Schilling introduced Bush in an airplane hangar in Wilmington, Ohio, telling thousands of supporters that they should elect a president who supports the troops "every step of the way." America needs "a leader who makes sure they have everything they need to get the job done, a leader who believes in their mission and honors their service, a leader who has the courage and the character to stay on the offense against terrorism until the war is won." "That leader is our commander in chief, George W. Bush," Schilling said. Bush campaign spokesman Scott Stanzel said Schilling would also appear with the president in Pennsylvania. After his sore ankle prevented him from attending Bush campaign rallies Friday, Schilling recorded endorsements that are being used through Election Day in New Hampshire, Maine and Pennsylvania. Bush spokeswoman Nicolle Devenish said the pitcher "must have been feeling better. He reached out to our campaign and offered to help."
Meanwhile, Democrat and Red Sox fan John Kerry countered the Schilling effect by recruiting the team's principal owner, John Henry, part-owner Tom Werner and general manager Theo Epstein to appear with him Sunday at a campaign stop in Manchester, N.H.
| Who the average fan would not know or care about. |
"Anyone who works for the Red Sox is free always to speak up, campaign as they so choose," team spokesman Charles Steinberg said Sunday. "We're big supporters of freedom of speech."
| Translation: "What are we gonna do if he doesn't listen to us, cut him? Are you insane?" |
Schilling endorsed Bush in a TV interview Thursday, a day after the Red Sox won the franchise's first World Series in 86 years. He agreed to appear with Bush on Friday but later canceled. |