Kerry says he's not ruling out another run
Tuesday, November 16, 2004 · Last updated 7:28 p.m. PT
By MARY DALRYMPLE
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
WASHINGTON -- Sen. John Kerry, who has $45 million left
from his record-breaking Democratic campaign, hinted on
Tuesday that he may try again for the presidency.
On his first workday back in the Senate since losing his White
House bid, Kerry remained far from the spotlight, granting
interviews to hometown reporters and joining the depleted
corps of Democrats as they elected the party's new Senate
leaders.
In his first extensive interview since his Nov. 2 defeat, Kerry
was asked by the Fox News affiliate in Boston about running
again in 2008 and reminded the questioner that Ohio is still
counting votes from 2004.
He then said, "It is so premature to be thinking about
something that far down the road. What I've said is I'm not
opening any doors, I'm not shutting any doors." Kerry added,
"If there's a next time, we'll do a better job. We'll see."
Reflecting on his loss, Kerry said he was not sitting around
thinking about it. "You've got to go on," he said. "Do I find it
some mark of failure or distress, the answer is no."
The former
presidential nominee
described himself as a
"fighter," and added, "I
can envision a lot of
years of fight ahead of
me."
In an interview with
WCVB-TV, Kerry said,
"Fifty-thousand votes -
we'd be in a different
place, having a
different
conversation," a
reference to Ohio, which decided the race.
The Democrats have no clear front-runner for the 2008
nomination. Kerry has a distinct financial advantage over any
rival based on his fund raising.
Kerry had roughly $45 million left in his primary campaign
fund as
of mid-October and could use that as seed money for another
presidential bid. In addition, he had about $7 million on hand
in a legal and accounting compliance fund that he could use
for legal expenses in a 2008 campaign.
Because Kerry accepted full public financing for the general
election phase of this year's race, he will have to give any of
that money that remains back to the government.
During his day in the Senate, Kerry's colleagues thanked him,
congratulated him and wished him well.
"Every time his name was mentioned, there was enthusiastic
applause. Literally, every time his name was mentioned," said
Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich.
Democrats met in a closed-door session to choose their
leadership team for next year in what is certain to be an
uphill struggle for the party. Not only did Democrats lose their
second straight presidential election on Nov. 2, but the
Republicans increased their numbers in the Senate and the
House.
In January, the GOP will control 55 Senate seats to 44 for the
Democrats with one Democratic-leaning independent.
Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., a former vice presidential
candidate who lost in 2000 and a one-time presidential
aspirant who fell short in the 2004 primaries, spoke from
experience in offering Kerry words of support.
"He has a lot to be proud of, and I hope he'll find what I did -
that it was great to have the U.S. Senate to come back to,"
Lieberman said.
Senators predicted that Kerry would find an expanded role as
he eased back into his old job.
"Obviously, he brings some experience, and people are
interested in what he has to say," said Sen. Ben Nelson,
D-Neb., pointing out that nearly half the country, if not quite
enough to elect him president, voted for Kerry. President
Bush received 60.5 million votes to Kerry's 57.1 million.
Kerry didn't make any remarks on the Senate's pending
legislation nor did he deliver any speeches at the Democrats'
meetings. He met privately with Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D.,
the former Minority leader who, like Kerry, lost on Nov. 2.
Kerry also thanked other Democrats one-by-one for their
support.
Kerry got a two-minute standing ovation from his staff, whom
he thanked for giving "your heart, your soul and even your
vacation time," one aide said.
The day belonged to another Democrat, Sen. Harry Reid of
Nevada, the party's newly elected leader. Questioned on a
range of issues as he assumed the job, Reid predicted that
Kerry will find a role, pointing to the four-term senator's past
work on banking and foreign policy issues.
"Senator Kerry is not a shrinking violet," Reid said. "We are
looking for John Kerry to find what he wants to do. We are
sorry that he's not in the White House, but we're glad that
he's back on Capitol Hill."
Kerry also met with his policy staff to talk about health care,
energy and other legislation that might build on themes from
his campaign.
Not since George McGovern lost a bid for the presidency in
1972 has a senator returned to the Senate as a defeated
presidential candidate, according to the Senate Historical
Office.
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