PROTESTERS BOO MCCAIN

Senator's Support for Bush Angers Some Delegates at a 'Shadow Convention'

PHILADELPHIA -- A "shadow convention" designed to draw attention to issues
overlooked by the Republican Party began on a raucous note yesterday when
delegates booed and loudly heckled Sen. John McCain for publicly and
strongly endorsing his former rival, George W. Bush.

But as uncomfortable -- and unexpected -- as the day started for the
Arizona senator, it ended on an emotional high when he held a rally for his
delegates to officially give them permission to support Bush.

"It was a good fight, my friends," he told his most ardent supporters,
having to pause at one point to regain his composure. But while his
delegates are now free to support the party's presumed nominee, not all
were happy to do so.

"It's an emotional thing," said Kris Wilder, a 39-year-old McCain delegate
from Seattle. "We all earnestly, emotionally, absolutely believe in this
man."

Unlike some supporters who said it would be difficult to support any other
candidate, Wilder said he would back Bush. "Why on God's green Earth would
I not?" he said when asked about switching to Bush. "This is now a campaign
between Al Gore and George Bush."

The adoration showered on McCain in that event contrasted sharply with the
tone earlier in the day at the shadow convention, a maverick event
organized by political commentator Arianna Huffington and others who say
Republicans and Democrats fail to address -- or even discuss -- subjects
such as poverty, the war on drugs and campaign finance reform because they
are hostages of "special interests."

Huffington said the two major parties are in the money chase, corrupting
the political system. An overriding goal of the shadow convention, she
said, "is to drive (the major parties) into donor detox."

The event drew considerable attention largely because of the appearance of
McCain, who has pushed hard for campaign finance reform.

McCain, who waged a fierce campaign against Bush for the GOP nomination,
was interrupted several times during his speech to a crowd of about 1,000
people, first by those responding to his call to support Bush and later by
a small knot of protesters upset over a land dispute involving Navajo
Indians in McCain's home state.

"I am obliged not by party loyalty but by sincere conviction to urge all
Americans to support my party's nominee, Gov. George Bush of Texas," McCain
said to weak applause that was quickly overwhelmed by a wave of boos. "I
believe sincerely he's the candidate for change, and that the vice
president is the candidate of the status quo."

He continued only to be interrupted again -- this time even more loudly --
by protesters who charged McCain with supporting legislation that would
force Navajo Indians in Arizona off their land.

"Get him off!" one protester yelled, prompting McCain to say, "If you like,
I need not continue."

Unlike the adoring crowds who bathed McCain in near hero worship during the
primary campaign, yesterday's audience was driven by disappointment in
McCain's failure to win the nomination and separate groups who dislike some
of his positions.

The crowd got so unruly that Huffington stepped to the lectern and urged
the protesters to be quiet. "This is a convention where we can hear
everyone with respect," she said.

Despite the heckling, the focus on reforming the way campaigns are financed
and eroding the influence of special interests fit perfectly into McCain's
political domain. He built his campaign around the same issues, attracting
a large and fiercely loyal following, many of whom were drawn to a
presidential campaign for the first time.

Other lower-profile events are scheduled throughout the week for the shadow
convention.

Tomorrow, for example, scheduled speakers include New Mexico Gov. Gary
Johnson, a Republican who gained wide attention calling for the
decriminalization of marijuana. The Rev. Jesse Jackson is scheduled to
speak that day, as is comedian Al Franken.

In opening what sponsors called the "anti-convention," Huffington stressed
that the goal was not to favor one party over another.

A separate shadow session will be held in Los Angeles later this month when
the Democrats hold their convention.

P-I reporter Charles Pope can be reached at 202-943-9229 or
charliepope@seattle-pi.com