Bill Lynch in his office at the Kerry campaign (Beth Fertig/WNYC)

NEW YORK, NY October 29, 2004 —

If John Kerry wins the presidential race next week, he may owe a big thanks to a certain New York political consultant. Bill Lynch is best known as the man who made David Dinkins New York 's first African American mayor. Now, Lynch is running Kerry's get out the vote operation. WNYC's Beth Fertig caught up with him in Washington , DC recently for a look behind the scenes.

Political observers call the Republican strategist Karl Rove “Bush's Brain.” But Democrat Bill Lynch sees himself playing a much different role in John Kerry's campaign.

LYNCH: I would argue that I'm a part of his conscience. Not his brain but a part of his conscience.

Lynch is National Deputy Campaign Manager. He's in charge of getting out the Democratic base.

LYNCH: Usually it's African Americans, Latino, women, gays and lesbians, labor.

The campaign has identified 19 of these constituent groups. Each has its own desk in a large room outside Lynch's office. Most of the staffers are out in the field now for the final push.

LYNCH: They touch those constituents. Find out what's happening with all those various constituents in all the states around the country.

The minutia involved is hard for anyone outside of politics to fully appreciate.

LYNCH: Hello .

The campaign has volumes of information. Which Indian reservations to visit in Nevada . Local officials of the rural communities in West Virginia . And a breakdown of the last election's turnout in Ohio . Lynch relies on his own experience to make sure these voters get excited by the Democratic message.

LYNCH: What I'd like to do, I'd like to put them in with a call that we're doing with John Kerry.

Lynch is lining up a conference call for African American ministers.

STEWART: OK, how big is the church? How many people is it going to seat?

Staffer Henry Stewart is in charge of reaching out to black churches and says the details are mind boggling. Especially if the candidate's planning to visit.

STEWART : Will we be able to have press there? What's the program of the service? You know, how long should he speak, should he speak? Where is he going to be seated? All those details as well as this pastor, what is his history in terms of voting? What are the issues important to him and his congregation?

While staffers answer questions like these, Lynch coordinates the big picture. He's a former vice chairman of the Democratic National Committee and knows how to pull all the strings.

LYNCH: Aretha I'm talking about. Aretha Franklin.
MAN: Yep, that would be good. And we could have her sing.

Staffers at the Kerry campaign say they're constantly amazed by Lynch's mental rolodex, and the people he knows. But his real strength is pulling it all together. He got David Dinkins elected in 1989 by stitching together an historic coalition of voters. Mona Pasquil is Lynch's second in command.

LYNCH: Bill is one of the first people who put together constituency outreach in New York . He's done this for presidential campaigns in the past. He's the one that says bring everybody to the table. Let's talk about what you need. Let's talk about how we together as communities of color or women, gay, lesbians, everyone how can we all come together and make sure we are heard? He's a legend for that.

Despite his reputation, Lynch says he's still just a country boy. He grew up on a potato farm in Eastern Long Island and got the campaign bug after moving to Harlem , where he worked on a Democratic district race. He went on to run the campaigns of Congressman Major Owens, Jesse Jackson's New York operation, and, of course, Dinkins. He also worked with South African President Nelson Mandela. Lynch now has a consulting business with clients including the New York Jets. But he says he couldn't turn down the 2004 election.

LYNCH: What I've said to a number of my friends is I've been invited to the Super bowl of politics and I find myself about 35 years too old to be playing in the Super bowl.

At 63, Lynch isn't someone you'd expect to find at the heart of a grueling presidential campaign. He has diabetes and got a kidney transplant ten years ago from his son. But he's clearly in his element. He's a rumpled character with a scruffy beard and a hearty laugh. His famously laid-back style comes in handy managing staffers who are mostly in their 20s and 30s.

LYNCH: Give me the quick version. What do you need me to do?

He listens patiently to a nervous staffer in a strategy session at the Democratic National Committee.

WOMAN: (sighs) Pennsylvania .
MAN: See! (laughs) WOMAN: That's the one state it's across the boards, it's no, I don't think it's black, Hispanic, it's messed up.

The Kerry campaign was criticized earlier this year for not doing enough to reach out to black voters. But staffers say that changed after Lynch came onboard in July. The way Lynch sees it, he's not just getting out the vote. He's protecting voters – especially minorities. Lynch is still angry about allegations that blacks in Florida were turned away by a Republican machine.

LYNCH: I think what they do is suppress voters. They don't encourage people to go to the polls they try to put fear in people's hearts so they won't vote and that concerns me.

But Republicans say that's a myth to drum up Democratic support. They also accuse the Democrats of encouraging voter fraud.

TRAYNHAM: There are over 250 published articles in 15 states that specifically mention 62 cases, and where there's voter fraud out there.

Robert Traynham is a senior advisor to the Republican National Committee.

TRAYNHAM: We have the likes of Dick Tracy, Mary Poppins and George Forman and other fictional characters out there that are registered to vote. We have individuals that have been deceased for a lot of years registered to vote. Individuals in Florida but also New York to the tune of 46,000 people that are registered in both states.

But Lynch says there's no proof Democrats are involved in these activities. And he says it's up to the states and their election officers to catch any illegalities.

LYNCH: I think if they find Democrats engaging in fraud they should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. That's the only thing I can say about it. I think to assume because people are doing aggressive voter registration is then interpreted as them committing fraud is the wrong way to go.

TV SOUND, “So what does each campaign need to do this last week to seal the deal with voters ? "

As the campaign comes to an end, Lynch and his staff are lining up their final events. It's now coming down to good, old-fashioned get out the vote tactics.

LYNCH: Knock on their doors, provide transportation, encourage their friends and neighbors to call them. Our polling has shown us  that's the best way to influence people at the grass roots level is through neighbors, friends and ministers. That's the best way you influence them to go to the polls.

Regardless of what happens on November 2 nd , Lynch knows what he's doing the next day. After four months in Washington , he's coming right back home to New York . For WNYC I'm Beth Fertig .