July 2015 - Eleven of the presidential candidates donned their walking shoes and marched in 2015 Independence Day parades in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.  If you were in one of the select towns you may have spotted a candidate amidst the marching bands, polished antique cars, floats, and assorted groups.  Typically the candidate is surrounded by a group of supporters wearing T-shirts and bearing signs as he or she greets citizens along the route (+); sometimes the candidate may march with the local Republican or Democratic group.  For larger parades the organizer will determine the line up, while in some of the smaller parades, line up is done on a first come basis, in which case it makes sense for a representative of the candidate to show up a bit early so the candidate is not stationed at the end near the fire truck.  The candidate's supporters may hand out candy or balloons (most parades have rules that for public safety nothing may be thrown).  Finally, even if the candidate doesn't make an appearance in a parade, a group of supporters may represent him or her.

Copyright © 2015  Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action. All rights reserved.