Alexandra Kerry said growing up a politician's daughter was no guarantee she would be politically active as an adult.
"I used to be such a delinquent voter," she said, "My dad used to get so mad. It was a complete awakening to see how a vote can make a difference."
Alexandra, Sen. John Kerry's daughter, spoke to a group of young female voters Wednesday at the Frontier Restaurant.
Kerry addressed her father's stance on issues such as education, health care, foreign policy and welfare.
Senior Valarie Aguilar said she was never into politics until this election, but began to support the Democratic Party after learning of President Bush's plan to privatize welfare. She said it would directly affect her family, because her mother is a social worker in Texas.
"It's not going to be a government problem anymore," she said. "He (Bush) wants to make it into a private problem. My mom will lose her job because of that."
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Kerry said she didn't agree with privatizing welfare and neither does her father. She said it would turn out to be another Halliburton, with Bush's friends profiting.
Senior Celina Gomez said she was glad Kerry spoke about higher education and health care because those are the most important issues for young people.
Kerry said her father plans on instituting a College Opportunity Tax Credit of $4,000 for four years of college and a service plan requiring a student to work for two years in a public service position to receive four years of full tuition.
"Education is a part of my dad's core values," she said. "It's part of who he is and what he believes in."
The war in Iraq was another topic Kerry addressed. She said pulling the troops out now has never been an option for her father, but restoring diplomacy to the United Nations and other countries is at the top of his agenda.
She said it's vital for other nations to help in the war to relieve pressure on American troops, some of whom are on their second and third duty tours in Iraq.
"He'll make direct phone calls with leaders of other countries," she said. "It's much easier to forgive the new guy."
About 65,000 children are without health care in this country, Kerry said.
"That, to me, just isn't OK," she said.
It is everyone's right to have access to good health care, she said of her father's plans.
"His standard is that he wants everyone to have this opportunity," she said.
Kerry said her father is the strongest person she knows, and he takes criticism lightly. She said the attacks from the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth and from conservatives who say he flip-flops on issues baffle her father.
"It's so untruthful, and he's trying to engage in optimistic conversation about what can be done better for Americans," she said. "His
opposition is focusing on the negative."
An audience member asked Kerry what she thought the chances are for her father winning.
She said the chances are great, and that it's all about people using their right to vote.
"Look at that change," she said. "It's right on the horizon, and you could make it happen."
She said everyone should encourage others to vote.
"You have to go to bed Nov. 1 knowing you did everything you could for your future," Kerry said.
