Campbell gives thumbs-up for Kerry
Martin Nicholls
Friday April 23, 2004
Alastair Campbell presents his one-man roadshow. Photo: PA
Tony Blair may be tight-lipped about his preferred candidate for the US presidency, but his former right-hand man is not so reticent.
Alastair Campbell has punctured his former boss's careful neutrality by declaring his support for the Democratic presidential candidate, John Kerry, during a live question and answer session.
As part of his roadshow, an Audience with Alastair Campbell, Dr Sallie Baxendale asked the retired No 10 press chief: "Who would you like to win the presidential election?"
"Well, although I said I would answer anything ..." began Mr Campbell, to disgruntled noises from the audience. He then turned the question around, asking Dr Baxendale who she thought his favoured candidate might be, given what he called his "left-of-centre politics".
She responded by saying that, although the audience had paid for Mr Campbell's and not her views, she thought he would vote for the Democratic candidate. To this, Mr Campbell gave an enthusiastic thumbs-up sign.
Dr Baxendale said: "At the beginning of the evening I thought 'he's been really misunderstood'. I'm not so convinced now, but at the least it was a clear refusal to endorse George Bush."
Despite Labour's historic links with the Democratic party, the prime minister has been extremely careful not to be seen to endorse Mr Kerry - to the extent that he was "too busy" to meet the presidential hopeful on his recent visit to the US.
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