NATCHEZ &045;&045; Working for her candidate in Mississippi held little promise for Mary Jane Gaudet of Natchez. She wanted instead to go to a state where her contributions might make a difference.

With Mississippi expected to be solidly for George Bush, Gaudet traveled two weeks ago to Wisconsin, where she has relatives and where getting out the vote for challenger John Kerry could affect the outcome of the state’s electoral votes, she said.

&uot;I’m a staunch Democrat, and I felt strongly I wanted to work in a swing state. I have a brother in Wisconsin; so I got in the car and drove there in two days,&uot; Gaudet said. &uot;I worked in the phone bank every day and on other days did door-to-door canvassing giving out information on Kerry.&uot;

The work was exhilarating, she said. And the highlight was an opportunity to attend a rally with 80,000 other Kerry supporters in Madison, the state capital.

&uot;We were six people from the front row. Bruce Springsteen was there. It was the most thrilling thing I’ve ever done,&uot; Gaudet said. &uot;It was so exciting to be among that many people who were for Kerry.&uot;

Caroline Kennedy dropped by the Kerry headquarters while she was working there, Gaudet said. &uot;I told her I had come to return the favor. Forty years ago, people came from the North to register voters in Mississippi. I was in the North doing the same.&uot;

Gaudet met Democrats from all across the country who also had come to help in a state that could go either way in the election today. &uot;And I also did a lot of advertising for Natchez. I described what was going on in this community. They were fascinated with the history of the town.&uot;

The trip to Wisconsin raised her spirits and her hopes for a Kerry win, Gaudet said. &uot;I think it’s going to be extremely close and it could be thrown into some kind of litigation,&uot; she said. &uot;But the first-time voters could throw the curve.&uot;

Whatever the outcome, she will cherish the experience of working for Kerry, Gaudet said. &uot;I am very passionate about this. I’m glad I was able to do something to help.&uot;