From ABC News Kerry campaign reporter Ed O'Keefe:
KETCHUM, IDAHO, Mar. 21--After a week of skiing, riding, climbing, and hiking, Senator John Kerry will be running again. Coming out of Ketchum, the unchallenged Democratic nominee faces two immediate challenges: money and image.
In order to re-fill primary depleted coffers, Kerry will immediately embark on a 20-city fundraising tour. Squeezing campaign events and fundraisers into a tightly packed schedule, the Senator begins collecting in the Golden State, hitting four California cites-Sacramento, San Francisco, San Diego, and Los Angeles-early next week.
In February, the Kerry campaign raised $8.4 million and spent $8.3 million, battling to secure the Democratic nomination. Since the decisive Super Tuesday primaries in which Kerry pushed his lone remaining rival Senator John Edwards from the race, Kerry campaign officials claim to have raised nearly $15 million on the Internet alone.
Nevertheless, Kerry's efforts this next month will be focused on traditional events, such as larger dinners, house parties, and meetings. In total, the Kerry campaign aims to raise $80 million, including some post-Super Tuesday funds, meaning no matter how well the Senator's efforts pay off, he will still be well shy of President Bush's current total of $160 million.
However, flowing funds will ensure the Kerry campaign can re-hire furloughed staffers, allowing them to fill out their newly acquired campaign headquarters in downtown Washington, in addition to beefing up their national field team.
Of the Senator's post-vacation schedule, Kerry campaign spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter says, "We have an aggressive schedule planned out over the next several weeks. We will travel all over the country, some days hitting more than one state."
Kerry's immediate schedule takes him back to Washington for a Unity Dinner featuring a guest list full of prominent Democrats including former Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter.
Senator Kerry will hold a rally with former nomination rival Howard Dean in Michigan, also traveling to Missouri before the end of the week.
Many of these events will focus on cultivating or, in some cases, establishing Kerry's image. Largely unknown outside Massachusetts, the Kerry camp needs to introduce the Senator to the nation while simultaneously battling back the Bush-Cheney campaign efforts to frame Kerry in an unflattering light.
Campaign officials refuse to cede ground in any of the contested states, with Cutter insisting, "We'll compete in all of them."
Some senior Kerry aides admit, however, that certain states are more decidedly in play, especially New Hampshire, West Virginia, Florida and Ohio, all states lost by Al Gore in 2000. Those same officials also suggested Kerry would play strongly for southern states such as Georgia and North Carolina, states which were more boldly red in the previous election.
As to when Kerry will choose a running mate, the Kerry camp remains coy, wisely choosing to keep the political water cooler buzzing for the next several months.
Since Kerry's quick pick of political ally and Ketchum neighbor Jim Johnson to lead his Vice Presidential Search Team, the Senator has remained mum, allowing local reporters from Florida to North Carolina to chatter about the possibility one of their own will soon be on the ticket.
Senator Kerry remains on vacation-tiring several press corps members half his age-until Wednesday. Kerry then returns to Washington for Thursday's Democratic Unity Dinner before heading to Michigan, Missouri, and California. |
