WARREN Campaign finance reform activist, 92, walks the walk

Her cross-country trek took 14 months and four pair of shoes and led to a meeting with national movers. But the bill she was promoting is ruined, she says.
By TRAVIS REED
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
WARREN -- Doris Haddock thought she could rest for a little while this year.
After President Bush signed a campaign finance reform bill that she had walked across the entire United States to support, Haddock -- known as "Granny D" -- was ready to celebrate.
But now she's not so certain. Haddock doesn't really know what the FEC is, but she's pretty sure they're messing up her bill.
The 92-year old New Hampshire resident slipped into the area Friday afternoon in between functions in Cleveland to speak at the Warren-Trumbull Public Library about campaign finance reform.
"[Taking contributions] seems to be the only way you can get elected today," Haddock said. "A poor man today sells his soul to run for office."
A brisk walk
Haddock is short but sprightly, with pink lips that match small circles around each eye.
Her brisk walk belies a hunched posture, which -- besides occasional slips of memory with familiar names and facts -- is her most obvious battle scar.
She is most famous for walking from California to Washington in 1999 to draw attention to soft money contributions -- which she says amounts to "legal bribery" bankrolling American politics.
The trek took Haddock 14 months, and she wore out four pair of shoes over the 3,200 miles. At the end of her journey, Haddock met with several lawmakers in Washington to discuss the bill. She has since written a book, "Granny D: Walking Across America in My 90th Year," describing her experience on the road.
Worried
Though the bill has finally passed both houses of the U.S. Congress, Haddock said she's worried the Federal Elections Commission will gut it before it's able to do any good.
At this point, Haddock said, the bill "isn't any good anyway" because it applies only to federal elections. Corporations will still be able to dump money into state contests to buy influence, she said.
"It's a beginning, but it can be built on," Haddock said. "What's important is getting public funding for elections."
'She's amazing'
Brad Bolton drove to the event from Kent just to see Haddock speak. He said he hasn't read her book, but is drawn to Haddock because of what she's done to support campaign finance reform.
"I've heard her name, and I know that she's charismatic," Bolton said. "So I wanted to hear her speak.
"She's amazing," he continued. "It's inspiring that someone of her age, who's not a professional, has been able to do this. If she can do that, what can I do?"
treed@vindy.com