Patriotic Parades With Political Flair

Nhie'n Pho, a member of the Vietnamese American Community Organization, dances past the National Archives. (Gerald Martineau - The Washington Post)

"It was unbelievable," Spence Spencer, president of the Palisades Citizens Association, said of the turnout. "It was the place to see and be seen."

Not everyone was raving about the Democratic process.

"Pathetic, isn't it?" Grant Berning, dressed as Uncle Sam, complete with the white beard and wig, said of the candidates. He acknowledged that his view was the result of growing up the son of an Illinois state senator who spent too many hours at parades and rubber chicken dinners.

"But I do believe in America," Berning said, smiling, before marching off to join the parade.

For the candidates, the challenge was to stand out in the crowd, a mission often accomplished by tossing any and all manner of token gifts.

Linda W. Cropp, the council chair running for mayor, handed out candy, bottles of bubbles and campaign stickers. Michael A. Brown, another candidate, gave out M&M's with his name attached. Bill Rice, running for the council, distributed Rice Krispies treats with a reminder to vote for him on the back.

Sometimes the gift registered the wrong impression, as was the case when Vincent C. Gray (D), the council member from Ward 7 running for Council chair, gave out chocolate kisses that surely melted in the furnace-like heat.

"We wondered about his judgment," said Jonathan Dana, a Mount Pleasant lawyer, standing with his wife as the candidates passed. Dana said he enjoyed seeing them because "you see the person, you see what they're like."

The crowd had plenty of opportunity to take the measure of D.C. Councilman Adrian M. Fenty (D-Ward 4) running for mayor. While his opponents waited at the start of the parade route, Fenty began at the other end, walking and shaking hands until he reached almost the beginning. He then turned on his heel and repeated the route.

"Happy July 4, again ," Fenty called out to a cluster of voters he'd already seen. His face and shirt were bathed in sweat, but his smile suggested that he had no plans to sit down any time soon.

Staff writer John Wagner contributed to this report.