New York, NY —

Democratic frontrunner John Kerry swept through New York City yesterday to rally his democratic base. WNYC's Andrea Bernstein was with the candidate. She has this campaign notebook.

The Kerry campaign is barely breaking a sweat here.

Announcer: Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome Congressman Charles Rangel and Senator John Kerry

In a Harlem ballroom on Monday morning, the music was atypically mellow for a political event -- Norah Jones and Cold Play. Rows in the back were conspicuously empty. It was the kind of Democratic event where the organizer, Congressman Rangel, introduced every district leader standing on the stage, and even the candidate's six-year old niece, Iris got a turn at the microphone.

Rangel: Okay Iris..here you go:

Iris was tongue-tied. But fortunately for the audience of Democratic faithful, the candidate, once he finally got to the mic, was not

Kerry: I have never seen in all the time I've been in public life - never seen! - the playing field tilted against the average person as much sit is today. I've never seen as much crony capitalism and crony government

Kerry talked about health care, education, the environment, all the issues that rouse the Democratic base. But nothing gets a response from these audiences as much as talking about President Bush.

Kerry: We are here today to mark the beginning of the end of the Bush Presidency and that's what this race is about I ask for your help in New York, and we will stand up in front of the country, and we will stand up in the front of the country and we will say mission accomplished. God Bless!

Kerry's next stop was A town-hall style meeting at York College in Jamiaca Queens

ANNOUNCER: Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, Congressman Anthony Weiner

There, the roster of political luminaries in attendance gave a clue about how Kerry' is going to planning over the 5 million Democratic voters in New York with just two days of campaigning. AFL-CIO co-chair Paul Coles began ticking off what the union is doing to reach its 2.5 million members here: leafleting and phone banks

COLES: AND we have a massive get out the vote program scheduled for March 2 so there is no doubt our mind that New York is going to be a John Kerry state overwhelmingly on march 2 applause fade.

Kerry promised to have a conversation with voters, not to talk at them. But if he broke that promise a little the forum WAS a good showcase for Kerry. It allowed to him display a breadth and depth of knowledge on issues from small business to disability rights to military staffing. He responded to a question on housing by pointing out he was chair of the Senate Housing Committee.

Kerry: The federal government has withdrawn and that's driving the housing crisis up you had 17000 kids in New York in a shelter on one night .

Kerry's range impressed union worker Zahed Ali.

Ali: Immigration issue also, he talks about immigration, then he talks about Muslims.

There were no unfriendly audience members here - most of the people in attendance were on the staffs of one of the many unions that are supporting Kerry. Deborah Murray liked what she heard.

Murray: I thought it was very good. He was very personable, very friendly, approachable. That was something I wasn't expecting

Bernstein: what were you expecting?

Murray: A politician

Kerry won't be back in New York until Sunday - and that's the last we're expected to see of him in a while. Interviews with the invited guests at Kerry's events show why he may not have to worry about New York -- yet.

BERNSTEIN: What do you think about John Edwards.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: I don't know very much about John Edwards, but I am very much in support of John Kerry.

BERNSTEIN: what do you think about john Edwards

AUDIENCE MEMBER I'm sorry who is that?

Edwards has been in New York for five days straight, and he's expected to be back for more. There are two debates before the primary, and his campaign thinks the former trial lawyer will shine when he's compared with the 19-year Senator. Then there's the newspaper endorsements - which are expected to count for a lot in a state where voters are just realizing there's an election next week. Still, for now, Kerry supporters in New York like Congress member Gregory Meeks are treating his nomination like a done deal

MEEKS: We've heard about Roosevelt, Roosevelt brought the new deal, Truman brought the fair deal, with bush we got the raw deal, ladies and gentlemen let me present john kerry we got the real deal.

For now, in New York John Kerry is content to let others say it for him. For WNYC, I'm Andrea Bernstein.

WNYC AM 820 will air the Democratic debate this Thursday at 9PM. The debate is sponsored by CNN, the Los Angeles Times and broadcast courtesy of 1010 WINS.