Politician Presses Kerry For '08 Decision
Politician Presses Kerry For '08 Decision
Will Senator Run For President Again?
BOSTON -- Sen. Edward Kennedy isn't the only Massachusetts Democrat pressing Sen. John Kerry for a decision soon on whether he will seek the presidency again.
Two leading members of the state's congressional delegation said they're also anxious for Kerry to make up his mind, so they can support someone else if he decides not to run.
"My only advice to him right now is hurry up," said Rep. James McGovern, D-Mass., who will be a prominent player in the new Congress as the second-ranking Democrat on the powerful House Rules Committee. "Give us some direction so we can figure out what we need to do. If he's not going to do it, then we can start dealing with some of these other candidates."
McGovern noted how the Democratic field has grown in recent weeks.
Rep. Michael Capuano, D-Mass., who is leading the day-to-day transition effort for incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, said Kerry needs to clarify his plans soon.
"I want to hear it from him, whatever it is," said Capuano, who hopes to meet with Kerry next week. "I want him to look me in the eye ... I'm tired of listening to rumors, if you want the truth ... I just think if he wants to run, he's gotta do it reasonably soon."
Kerry, his party's 2004 nominee, reiterated Friday that he will decide after New Year's Day.
"Senator Kerry has said he'll make his decision about a presidential campaign shortly after the new year after consulting with Sen. Kennedy and the congressional delegation," Kerry spokesman David Wade said in an e-mailed statement. "We're well over a year away before the first ballots are cast in the 2008 nominating process, but Sen. Kerry has no intention of waiting too long on his decision."
Delegation members are eager for Kerry's decision so they can line up behind someone else if he declines to run, McGovern said. Some have already been asked to back potential Kerry rivals.
"All of us are waiting to find out what our friend is going to decide," McGovern said. "If he's not going to be involved, we want to be able to get our oar in the water (with other candidates) ... In presidential politics, people take sides early. People want permission to leave and go support someone else."
Kennedy earlier this month said he wouldn't wait indefinitely for Kerry's 2008 decision, stepping up pressure on the junior senator. Kerry delayed his decision last fall after the uproar over his "botched joke" about President Bush and the Iraq war that Republicans branded an insult to U.S. Troops.
The delegation backed Kerry's 2004 bid.
Some of Kerry's prospective rivals have already reached out to delegation members.
"I've been asked by others, not by John," said Capuano, who refused to divulge any names.
McGovern said he, too, had spoken informally with some potential candidates.
"A lot of people are really intrigued with some of the names that are coming up," said McGovern, citing New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and Kerry's 2004 running mate, former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards. "We have some great talent that is talking about getting into this race."
McGovern noted that Democrats are traditionally reluctant to embrace presidential losers like Kerry a second time around.
"He's not the new face and he's not the person right now who's on the cover of 'Newsweek,"' said McGovern.
Rep. Martin Meehan, D-Mass., said he would not be surprised if Kerry delays a decision.
"The reality is, Hillary Clinton and Obama are clearly leading the pack," said Meehan. "I'm not sure he needs to get in early to be a legitimate person people will look to if the leaders stumble and there's an opening for someone else."
Rep. William Delahunt, D-Mass., said that while the delegation had backed Kerry in 2004, the political picture was different this time around.
"Circumstances have changed," Delahunt said. "There are different candidates, different potential candidates."
Delahunt said he was not urging Kerry to run, only because he considers the decision a deeply personal one and would not presume to offer advice.
"In addition to ambition and a desire to serve, there are other components in the equation -- personal considerations, family issues," Delahunt said.
Delahunt added he was not sure if he would support Kerry if he runs.
"It's still early," he said.
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/politics/10632450/detail.html?rss=bos&psp=news
Will Senator Run For President Again?
BOSTON -- Sen. Edward Kennedy isn't the only Massachusetts Democrat pressing Sen. John Kerry for a decision soon on whether he will seek the presidency again.
Two leading members of the state's congressional delegation said they're also anxious for Kerry to make up his mind, so they can support someone else if he decides not to run.
"My only advice to him right now is hurry up," said Rep. James McGovern, D-Mass., who will be a prominent player in the new Congress as the second-ranking Democrat on the powerful House Rules Committee. "Give us some direction so we can figure out what we need to do. If he's not going to do it, then we can start dealing with some of these other candidates."
McGovern noted how the Democratic field has grown in recent weeks.
Rep. Michael Capuano, D-Mass., who is leading the day-to-day transition effort for incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, said Kerry needs to clarify his plans soon.
"I want to hear it from him, whatever it is," said Capuano, who hopes to meet with Kerry next week. "I want him to look me in the eye ... I'm tired of listening to rumors, if you want the truth ... I just think if he wants to run, he's gotta do it reasonably soon."
Kerry, his party's 2004 nominee, reiterated Friday that he will decide after New Year's Day.
"Senator Kerry has said he'll make his decision about a presidential campaign shortly after the new year after consulting with Sen. Kennedy and the congressional delegation," Kerry spokesman David Wade said in an e-mailed statement. "We're well over a year away before the first ballots are cast in the 2008 nominating process, but Sen. Kerry has no intention of waiting too long on his decision."
Delegation members are eager for Kerry's decision so they can line up behind someone else if he declines to run, McGovern said. Some have already been asked to back potential Kerry rivals.
"All of us are waiting to find out what our friend is going to decide," McGovern said. "If he's not going to be involved, we want to be able to get our oar in the water (with other candidates) ... In presidential politics, people take sides early. People want permission to leave and go support someone else."
Kennedy earlier this month said he wouldn't wait indefinitely for Kerry's 2008 decision, stepping up pressure on the junior senator. Kerry delayed his decision last fall after the uproar over his "botched joke" about President Bush and the Iraq war that Republicans branded an insult to U.S. Troops.
The delegation backed Kerry's 2004 bid.
Some of Kerry's prospective rivals have already reached out to delegation members.
"I've been asked by others, not by John," said Capuano, who refused to divulge any names.
McGovern said he, too, had spoken informally with some potential candidates.
"A lot of people are really intrigued with some of the names that are coming up," said McGovern, citing New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and Kerry's 2004 running mate, former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards. "We have some great talent that is talking about getting into this race."
McGovern noted that Democrats are traditionally reluctant to embrace presidential losers like Kerry a second time around.
"He's not the new face and he's not the person right now who's on the cover of 'Newsweek,"' said McGovern.
Rep. Martin Meehan, D-Mass., said he would not be surprised if Kerry delays a decision.
"The reality is, Hillary Clinton and Obama are clearly leading the pack," said Meehan. "I'm not sure he needs to get in early to be a legitimate person people will look to if the leaders stumble and there's an opening for someone else."
Rep. William Delahunt, D-Mass., said that while the delegation had backed Kerry in 2004, the political picture was different this time around.
"Circumstances have changed," Delahunt said. "There are different candidates, different potential candidates."
Delahunt said he was not urging Kerry to run, only because he considers the decision a deeply personal one and would not presume to offer advice.
"In addition to ambition and a desire to serve, there are other components in the equation -- personal considerations, family issues," Delahunt said.
Delahunt added he was not sure if he would support Kerry if he runs.
"It's still early," he said.
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/politics/10632450/detail.html?rss=bos&psp=news
posted by presgore19 at 9:05 PM
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