Kerry backs Obama

[AFBlue]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22590831/

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - Barack Obama has won the presidential endorsement of Sen. John Kerry, the Democrats' 2004 nominee who lost to George W. Bush.

Kerry, a senator from Massachusetts, planned to announce his support Thursday at 11 a.m. EST at a rally at the College of Charleston, said a Democrat familiar with Kerry's decision. The 2004 nominee was to argue that Obama can best unite the country and has the potential to create transformational change, the person said.

Kerry lost the South Carolina Democratic primary in 2004 to John Edwards, the former North Carolina senator who now is running third in the 2008 campaign behind Hillary Rodham Clinton and Obama.

Besides any potential help for Obama, Thursday's endorsement was a slap at Edwards, who was Kerry's running mate in the last election. The two had their differences during the campaign over strategy and spending. In post-mortem interviews, Edwards said he would have been more aggressive in challenging the unsubstantiated allegations of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, the Vietnam War veterans who questioned Kerry's military record.

As for Obama, Kerry gave the young Illinois state senator his first turn in the national spotlight when he chose him to deliver the keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. Later that year, Obama won election as a U.S. senator.

Kerry himself had considered running for president in 2008, but that plan fizzled with a botched Iraq joke during the close of the elections in 2006. For many Democrats, his words then revived bitter memories of his missteps in 2004, when he lost to Bush.

Since announcing a year ago he would not make the run, Kerry has prodded Democrats to take a stronger anti-war stance, pushing for troop withdrawal deadlines. In another area, he has backed environmental causes, writing a book with his wife on the issue.

My question is, does this actually help or hurt Obama in his campaign for the democratic nomination?

On one hand, this guy was the choice of the party just four years ago. On the other hand, HE LOST!

What's your take on the Kerry endorsment...good or bad for Obama?

[101A]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22590831/




My question is, does this actually help or hurt Obama in his campaign for the democratic nomination?

On one hand, this guy was the choice of the party just four years ago. On the other hand, HE LOST!

What's your take on the Kerry endorsment...good or bad for Obama?

Neutral - to bad, I think.

Gore's endorsement is the biggie sitting out there.

[Yonivore]

Neutral - to bad, I think.

Having a pretentious gasbag like Kerry in your corner can't be good.

Gore's endorsement is the biggie sitting out there.

Yeah, a raving envirowhacko will add to the sobriety.

[TheProfessor]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22590831/




My question is, does this actually help or hurt Obama in his campaign for the democratic nomination?

On one hand, this guy was the choice of the party just four years ago. On the other hand, HE LOST!

What's your take on the Kerry endorsment...good or bad for Obama?

An endorsement from Kerry helps with Obama's viability in Northeastern states where Hillary is more of a known commodity. This could also help move other members of Congress to support Obama, as people begin to fear the Clinton machine less and less. Not to mention Kerry has a large donor database that could potentially contribute to Obama's already burgeoning funds.

It could have an adverse effect on Obama's pull with independent and moderate Republicans, but at this juncture it's important to appeal to the Dem base in closed primaries and Kerry could help with that.

[101A]

..
Yeah, a raving envirowhacko will add to the sobriety.

Considering who votes in the Democratic primaries...don't you think?

[TheProfessor]

Considering who votes in the Democratic primaries...don't you think?

Gore would be an enormous boost to anyone's campaign, much more so than Kerry's, especially in the primaries.

[Yonivore]

Considering who votes in the Democratic primaries...don't you think?

Maybe he'll back Kucinich then.

[AFBlue]

An endorsement from Kerry helps with Obama's viability in Northeastern states where Hillary is more of a known commodity. This could also help move other members of Congress to support Obama, as people begin to fear the Clinton machine less and less. Not to mention Kerry has a large donor database that could potentially contribute to Obama's already burgeoning funds.

It could have an adverse effect on Obama's pull with independent and moderate Republicans, but at this juncture it's important to appeal to the Dem base in closed primaries and Kerry could help with that.

TheProffesor has my vote!

[FromWayDowntown]

Given that Gore was within 600 votes of winning the Presidency (and won the American popular vote) while fighting the incessant Clinton bashing, I'd say his endorsement would actually carry significant weight. Obviously, it won't change the minds of those who aren't at all inclined to vote for a Democrat, but among those who pay attention to endorsements and might be inclined to make a decision based upon an endorsement, getting a thumbs up from Gore is significant. More than that, as TheProfessor noted, the endorsements of Gore and Kerry make a big difference in terms of where money is likely to be spent on candidates.

Frankly, though, I can't imagine that there are too many who would have been inclined to vote for Senator Obama who will now be dissuaded from that view because Kerry endorsed him.

[O-Factor]

Having a pretentious gasbag like Kerry in your corner can't be good.


Yeah, a raving envirowhacko will add to the sobriety.

I agree, but Gore will influence Hollywood, which in turn will get people like Tim Robbins, his dumbwife, George Clooney, Sean Penn, DiCaprio, and other celebrities who like they think they are political experts to endorse that canidate. Then fickle and simple minded people who look up to these celebrities will in turn vote for that canidate. Of course this is only in California, who secular progressive anyway.

[ElNono]

I agree with FWD about Gore's relevancy backing up a candidate. I don't know about Kerry though. I think he was one of the worst candidates to president ever, and honestly, and in my opinion his campaign strategists plain sucked.

[TheProfessor]

and in my opinion his campaign strategists plain sucked.

Now THAT I'll agree with.

[George Gervin's Afro]

the kiss of death..

[George Gervin's Afro]

I agree with FWD about Gore's relevancy backing up a candidate. I don't know about Kerry though. I think he was one of the worst candidates to president ever, and honestly, and in my opinion his campaign strategists plain sucked.

I emailed the kerry campgin numerous times to make the election about Bush's credibility.. show ads of what he said in the run up to the war.. ('how we couldn't wait any longer, mushroom clouds, etc..) Is Bush credible anymore? can you trust in what he says... I would have soundbite(d) him to death.. they didn't listen..

[Yonivore]

I emailed the kerry campgin numerous times to make the election about Bush's credibility.. show ads of what he said in the run up to the war.. ('how we couldn't wait any longer, mushroom clouds, etc..) Is Bush credible anymore? can you trust in what he says... I would have soundbite(d) him to death.. they didn't listen..

Gosh! If only they would have listened to you...

[Oh, Gee!!]

Kerry will change his mind by next week.

[Hook Dem]

Kerry will change his mind by next week.

[George Gervin's Afro]

Gosh! If only they would have listened to you...

we would have a flip flopper vs a person with zero credibilty..

what a choice..

[Nbadan]

don't forget, Bill OReilly defending Clinton...

"The reason she's a U.S. senator, the reason she's a candidate for president, the reason she may be a front-runner is her husband messed around." O'Reilly called Matthews' comment "rough" and said: "We don't do that here. We would never say that Senator Clinton got her job because her husband messed around. I mean, that is -- that is a personal attack. And it is questionable whether a network should allow that or not."

MM

....UP is down, down is up...

[Holt's Cat]

Is O'Reilly running for office?

[Wild Cobra]

the kiss of death..

Who knows. That might be his stratagy...

[George Gervin's Afro]

Who knows. That might be his stratagy...

good point. i never thought about that..