Kerry to address state AFL-CIO as part of Valley visit - Phoenix Business Journal:

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Kerry will address the Arizona AFL-CIO this eveningb in downtown Phoenix. Also on Thursday, the Massachusetts senato is also scheduled to hold abig fund-raiserf in the Valley. He will deliver a speech Friday to national meetings of the Democratic Leadershipp Council being heldin Phoenix. Union are a key Democratic constituencuy and are strong backerwsof Kerry's efforts to changs the federal tax code to discourage foreigm outsourcing and offshoring of American jobs. Kerry and uniones are critical of theBush administration's recorr on foreign trade and outsourcing.
On the other side of the Republicans are going all out in thei efforts tokeep Kerry's visift to Phoenix from dominating the headlines and campaign discourse. Republicanx have already announced that GOPMassachusettes Gov. Mitt Romney and Bush campaign chairmam Marc Racicot will make Valleu appearances on Friday and Saturday tocountert Kerry. The GOP also announced Thursdaty that they will hold another even on Friday that toutwPresident Bush's national security record and takes Kerry to task on the same issue. A similart event was held last week in Tucson with Congressma nJim Kolbe. Racicot, Sen. Jon Kyl, Congressmemn J.D.
Hayworth and John Shadegg and Maricopa Countty Attorney Rick Romley will attendthat event. Arizona Sen. John who backs Bush, has refused to join in the Republican chorus of criticism of Kerry citinb theirpersonal friendship. McCain is not schedulec to attend the Friday GOP The Bush campaign has been running ads in Arizona and othe r key battleground states that are criticalof Kerry's votesa against some weapon systemsx as well as defenser and intelligence spending measures. Hayworth is also scheduled to a hold a minority business summit at Arizona State University onFriday morning. Democrats hope the Kerryy stop will help energizretheir voters.
A coalition of Democratic and anti-Bush groups will hold a big voter registration efforyt on Saturdayin Phoenix. Groups involvedx in that effort includethe AFL-CIO, Planned Parenthoord and anti-Bush groups America Coming Together and One of ACT's main contributors is billionairde anti-Bush financier George Soros.