PROTESTERS GATHER OUTSIDE TO OFFER AN OPPOSING VIEW

EVESHAM - President Bush came to town yesterday to talk about homeland
security and terrorism, but a bunch of people who weren't invited to
the event wanted him to hear what they had to say about the same issues.

About 800 people gathered across the street from the Eves-ham
Recreation Cen-ter to protest Bush's positions, yelling loudly about
the war in Iraq and the fact that they're supporting Democratic
candidate John Kerry.

Margo Pellegrino of Medford Lakes stood in the crowd of protesters
holding a sign that read "Clueless in the oval office . . . a national
security disaster."

"He's made it safer for the terrorists," Pellegrino said. "We've lost
respect in the world."

Lynn Winkler of Mount Laurel held a sign with a picture of Bush that
read "Like a Rock only Dumber."

"A man who can't admit a mistake can't fix it," Winkler
said.

Mary Dee of Moorestown said the Republicans are reading too much into
polls that indicate Bush does well in New Jersey because of the
homeland-security issue. Dee held a Kerry-Edwards campaign sign.

"I think suburban mothers are afraid of Bush being re-elected. The
terrorism happened under his watch," Dee said. "New Jersey's going to
go for Kerry."

The protesters were kept too far from the recreation center to get
Bush's attention when he arrived for the event, but a group of about
1,000 Republican supporters who had tickets allowing them to stand
outside the venue had better access to the president.

Bush walked over and waved to the supporters before entering the
recreation center. He also briefly addressed the group outside before
he left, telling the supporters, "With your help, we can carry New
Jersey." Click here!

"To have him come over here was just a class act," said Joyce
Rosenblum of Mount Laurel.

"I was surprised," said Rory McTear, an eighth-grader at Evesham's
Frances S. DeMasi School.

"We thought it was worth skipping school," added classmate Bill
McGoey.

The Bush supporters and the protesters didn't get near each other
until after the event, when many supporters and the roughly 1,100
people who had tickets to listen to Bush speak inside the center had
to pass by the protesters to get to their cars.

There were several verbal exchanges between the two groups. Protesters
challenged Bush supporters to send their kids to Iraq and chanted
"Bush Lies." Many Bush supporters yelled back, saying "Kerry is going
down" and "Get a job."

At one point, Republican Burlington County Freeholder William Haines
Jr. of Medford argued loudly about the war with protester Louis
Schneider of Ocean Grove, Monmouth County.

"See you, loser," Haines said as he turned away from Schneider while
making an "L" with his index finger and thumb.

"Why are they so angry?" Schneider asked after the
exchange.

Despite the strong feelings on both sides, there was only one incident
and one arrest, according to Evesham police Capt. William Cromie.

James S. Miller, 52, of Silverton, Ocean County, was charged with
disorderly conduct and released on a criminal summons pending a court
hearing Nov. 8.

Cromie said Miller attempted to go into an area reserved for ticketed
guests and was arrested.