DAVID SKOLNICK | Politics There are two varieties of Teresa Heinz Kerry

It's as if there are two Teresa Heinz Kerrys.
The first one is dull, seems uninterested in campaigning, and mumbles or starts a sentence and never finishes it to the point that you can't understand most of what she says. There isn't enough No Doze and Jolt Cola to keep people awake when this Heinz Kerry is around.
The second Heinz Kerry is interesting, engaging and not afraid to speak her mind, even if she contradicts her husband.
I got to meet both of them at the same time Tuesday.
Heinz Kerry visited the Mahoning Valley on a campaign stop for her husband, U.S. Sen. John Kerry, who is going to be the Democratic presidential nominee.
The quiet, dull side
I first "met" Heinz Kerry on Feb. 20 when she spoke at Oakhill Renaissance Place in Youngstown. Stumping for her husband, Heinz Kerry spoke in a monotone voice for 30 minutes in vague terms about economic development, and how, if her husband is elected, he will turn around the Valley's fortunes.
I was told by Kerry campaign officials that I would get to speak to her privately after that speech. That was not to be. I had to push my way toward her to ask three questions. The answer to the last question about the then-decline of Howard Dean as the Democratic front-runner was "well, um."
Her handlers had to get her over to Anthony's on the River to do live interviews with the local television stations for their 6 o'clock news programs. Honestly, her answers were so weak that I wasn't disappointed that I didn't get more time with her.
I expected pretty much the same for her roundtable discussion Tuesday at the Austintown public library. It didn't get off to a promising start when U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland of Lisbon, D-6th, initially introduced her as the "former first lady." He later changed it to the "future first lady."
I've read articles in national publications about her engaging personality and intelligence. I hadn't seen that Teresa Heinz Kerry.
When the roundtable discussion began at the library, the uninteresting Heinz Kerry appeared. She spoke softly and mumbled, making it impossible to hear most of what she said. The main Kerry campaign official at the event took notes and wrote "amplify" on a sheet of paper listing what improvements should be made at future political stops.
Newspaper reporters got closer and closer to her as the event went on to pick up some of her comments, but it was a wasted effort even when we were practically on top of the 12 people talking with her.
And it was only her. I heard everything the other people had to say.
When she finished, I wondered what I could possibly write because I didn't have one full quote from her.
New persona emerges
She left the room for a few minutes, and apparently changed into her interesting and outspoken Heinz Kerry personality to take questions from the press.
Heinz Kerry was introspective about herself and her role as a surrogate for her husband on the campaign trail, and what she would do as first lady. She even admitted she put on 15 pounds during the campaign because she had to eat at many events.
She admitted the campaign is "grueling," but she had a couple of days rest before the Mahoning Valley stop and was feeling "very perky."
Heinz Kerry also showed a very dry wit when she turned the discussion toward her age.
Heinz Kerry said she is glad she's 65 years old, and not 40, because she has learned several life lessons over the years, and is better prepared to campaign today than she would have been 25 years ago.
Then Heinz Kerry said she wouldn't mind being 57. At first, I had no idea why she would mention such an unusual age. Why not 55 or 50? It was after I left that I got the joke. It was a tribute to her late husband, U.S. Sen. John Heinz, whose family owns the Heinz Co. The company's famous motto is "57 varieties."
Toward the end of the press conference, something amusing occurred.
Heinz Kerry pointed directly at me, and said, "I remember you. I met you in Cleveland." I looked to either side of me figuring she was talking to someone else. But no, it was me.
I hadn't met her in Cleveland. I politely told her that we met when she came to the Valley in February. I didn't bother telling her that when we "met" four months ago, her handlers were doing everything they could to keep me away from her. I guess it's nice to be recognized in some fashion.