Sunday afternoon I watched two John Kerry supporters dejectedly lugging campaign signs away from the Kites On Ice festival on frozen Lake Mendota.
I think they'd just noticed that there were 35 adults out on the ice shepherding some 68,000 children. And this is Madison, so about 20 of those 35 votes are going to Nader, whether he runs or not.
But the Kerry-troopers missed an opportunity Sunday. They forgot that, although kids can't vote, youthful insight is more precise and useful than any adult punditry.
I went on the ice with my notebook to hear some kids' views on the race for the Democratic nomination and the 2004 presidential election.
Of course I secured permission from the children's parents, if I could find one within six feet of the child.
Near the Union Terrace steps I found 7-year-old Cody repeatedly hitting his dog with a stick and yelling, \I'm the best.""
I calmed him down and asked him who he thought, ideally, should be the Democratic nominee for president.
""Big Bird,"" he answered. ""He's not a Washington insider and I think he can lock down at least one of the southern states Gore couldn't carry in 2000. Also, he should be competitive for the Hispanic vote because he's friends with Maria and Luis from Mr. Hooper's store.""
Chandler, 6, gave his interview with one hand up his nose and the other grasping his father's pant leg.
""I don't know who should be the president,"" he answered. ""But I don't think it should be Howard Dean.""
""He's always yelling, like Daddy,"" he said before his father whisked him away, laughed nervously and yelled, ""Print that and I'll sue.""
I met Kaylee, 10, when I slipped into Memorial Union to elude Chandler's daddy. She was the only child I met who could name all the candidates still in the race. Her tastes ran to the obscure.
""I think Dennis Kucinich should win, because he's 10 years old, like me,"" she said.
I informed Kaylee that Dennis Kucinich is nearly 60 years old, and that 10-year-olds are constitutionally ineligible to be president. She was offended.
""Why shouldn't I be allowed to be president? I'm not old enough to do cocaine, make a corrupt real estate bargain or dodge the draft. Shouldn't I be president before I'm old enough to be a criminal?""
On the flip side of the age issue, Kaylee's 8-year-old brother Dillon was concerned about one candidate being too old to win.
""I think John Kerry is melting,"" he said.
I spent much of my day trying to find a young conservative. Caitlin, 12, was a little confused.
""Ronald Reagan should be our next president,"" she said. ""I go to Ronald Reagan Middle School in Dixon, Ill. We took the Ronald Reagan Highway here.""
""I was going to watch the Ronald Reagan documentary on CBS, but Mommy said the bastard liberal media lied so much they had to move it to Showtime. She works at Eureka College's Ronald Reagan Physical Education Center.""
Finally, I found 5-year-old Cruise. The son of two Milwaukee factory workers, he was the first and only child to endorse Bush.
""I want George W. Bush to win,"" he said. ""My mommy and daddy got to stay home with me every day since he became president.""
Dan is a senior majoring in journalism. He can be reached at dlhinkel@wisc.edu.
