They've done it before, and this time should be no different.
Huntington has experience when it comes to visits from politicalfigures. Two weeks after the city welcomed Democratic presidentialnominee John Kerry, it will do it again Friday for President Bush.
Matt Rugh, Charleston's Secret Service resident agent-in-charge,said experience should pay off Friday.
"They've been extremely supportive and cooperative with us," Rughsaid about Huntington and other surrounding police departments.
Huntington Mayor David Felinton said police are working closelywith the Secret Service to keep things safe for Bush and the city'sresidents. Other area police departments also are working with theSecret Service to prepare for Bush's visit.
"The Secret Service doesn't have the manpower to accomplish whatwe need to accomplish alone," Rugh said.
Police officials from the Huntington and Marshall Universitydepartments declined to talk about specific preparations. But it islikely, Rugh said, that more officers will be on the job that day toprovide security for Bush's speech at Marshall and at a rally atHarris Riverfront Park where thousands are expected to addressconcerns about jobs and health care.
Those at the rally, organized by the Southwestern District LaborCouncil, are expected to march to Marshall at the end of the event.
Rugh said one problem would be road closures as Bush's motorcademakes its way into Huntington from Tri-State Airport in Wayne County.
Marshall officials will close two parking lots adjacent to theJoan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center where Bush will speak.
At Marshall, preparations are to mirror those involved in Kerry'svisit. The big difference is that the White House is sending morepeople, said H. Keith Spears, Marshall's vice president ofinstitutional advancement.
"It's gone very smooth," he said. "The information and the processthat the White House has laid out so far have gone very well."
Having two major political figures on campus within such a shorttime has caused a lot of excitement, Spears said.
"This is a wonderful opportunity for the university," Spears said."Having two national leaders like this bringing major issues tocampus brings healthy political dialogue to our students."
Friday will be the first time a sitting president has visitedHuntington since 1996 when President Clinton made a stop on his wayto a Democratic National Convention.
Bush was last in Huntington on Oct. 2, 2000, as a presidentialcandidate.
Rugh said the visits are part of the job of the Secret Service.
"We'll get the job done," he said.
Writer Mike Andrick can be reached at 348-1796 or by e-mail atmandrick@dailymail.com.
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