After Kerry Endorses, Political World Waits For Kennedy

With one Massachusetts senator throwing his weight into the Democratic presidential race today, anticipation now mounts for the other to follow suit.

Sen. John Kerry announced his support for Sen. Barack Obama at a rally in South Carolina on Thursday. The endorsement came at a bittersweet moment for the Illinois Democrat. While his campaign recovers from an unexpected loss to Sen. Hillary Clinton in the New Hampshire primary, Obama has also seen his electoral prospects in Nevada - the next primary state - jump sharply, as a result of the Culinary Union's powerful endorsement.

Kerry's backing added an additional bump to the wave of good news, which Obama's camp hopes will push Clinton's victory out of the news cycle. Aides to Obama are convinced that, logistically, Kerry will prove extremely beneficial to their campaign. "He is still one of the most respected figures in the Democratic Party," one told the Huffington Post. "And he has an email list of three million activistsand donors. So organizationally it will be a boost."

But with Kerry's name now out of the endorsement battle, attention once again turns to Sen. Ted Kennedy, who next to former vice-president Al Gore is the most important Democratic figure yet to enter the primary fray. The liberal lion sits on Senate committees with both Obama and Clinton and has been complimentary of the two - even though Obama once called him out for "getting old." But even as the campaign season heats up, Kennedy, his office claims, does not feel the need to offer a commitment.

"Senator Kennedy has no plans to get involved at this time," Melissa Wagoner, a spokesperson for the Senator told the Huffington Post. "He has very strong relationships with many of these candidates personally, and has a lot of respect for them. Senator Kennedy is enormously pleased with the historic turn out and energy for the Democratic candidates at the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary."

Comments

[not one of the sheep]

07:03 AM on 01/12/2008

Only "spewing and hating" Bush or the Republicans its acceptable with this crowd. Nobody but one without a life really cares what Teddy has to say or who he endorses (besides Jim Beam). Come on Kundera, get with the program.

[MetricSystem]

12:40 AM on 01/12/2008

It sounds more and more like Obama is the establishment candidate. As for Rove, are you forgetting that he wrote an article giving advice to Obama back in December? The fact that he now wrote an article against Obama only proves that he's a sh*t disturber and nothing else.

[MrCoffeeCup]

12:11 AM on 01/12/2008

Why is Richard Nixon laughing? I know I can visualize this endorsement as one of the best "dirty tricks" by Obama's competitors.

Wow, Kerry just endorsed me! Now what?
I can see Obama going everywhere in public. TV shots from the waist up. But, if you look down; there you see Sen Kerry hanging on to Barrak's leg like a little kid hanging on to his dad. Barrak now has his leg chained to a rusty ball of dead weight.
Listen to the conversation between Barrak and John: "Oh please let me speak at this rally, please will ya! Remember me I went to Vietnam and I'm a war hero! Please let me speak. I can't stand being in Washington where no one is paying attention to me! Pulleezz BARAAK!' I'll even put ketchup on your fries for ya! OK?

Now Barrak has got to be nice, but he's been had! Whom ever was responsible for this "Dirty Trick" gets 8 million cuedo's from the entertained crowd watchers of Primary08.
Like the British Beer commerical says "Brilliant"!

[geewhizes]

09:25 PM on 01/11/2008

KERRY AND OBAMA ARE ONLY ALIKE IN ONE WAY. THEY EACH WANTED TO RAISE TAXES, KERRY WANTED TO RAISE HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS, BUT OBAMA WANTS TO RAISE TAXES $8 TRILLION, BUT FOR AFRICA. OBAMA FOR USA==UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA. KERRY WAS FOR AMERICA. THE WORD IS WAS, WAS.

[raymundorassilon]

08:20 PM on 01/11/2008

WAITING FOR GODOT? No, waiting for Ted K., the Grand Old Patriarch of the Democratic Party. It will be interesting to see who Ted throws his support in for. My personal feeling is that he will support Obama, not Hillary. I guess we will have to wait and see who he picks.

[alamo]

05:39 PM on 01/11/2008

Celebrity endorsements, at least as I view things, are important for all Democrats to consider.

Former Senator Bill Bradley's endorsement of Obama suggests that Obama's ethical values are intact. But Senator Kerrey's failure to endorse his hand chosen VP running mate is mystifying to me. Why would Kerrey fail to endorse John Edwards presently, when he (or his closest advisors) most definitely did in 2004? Although I know he won't explain his current decision, if it warrants serious voters' consideration he should explain his decision-making process here.

Along with Senator Kennedy's endorsement of his candidate, I'd be interested in knowing who Senator Tom Harkin, Former Senator Tom Daschle, Former Senator Bob Kerry, Senator Clair McCaskil, Former Senator and University of Oklahoma President, David Boren, Senator Max Baucas and Former House Minority Leader Dick Gephart think would make the best President. These are all trustworthy, intelligent people that are in tune with the demands of the Presidency and need to let us have the considerable benefit of their thoughts.


After the disasters of the last 7 years we must get it right this go around. If in 2008 we as a nation again fail, there may not be another chance to. This election is deadly serious.

[Average]

11:26 AM on 01/11/2008

Is it a good thing to be endorsed by a bunch of LOSERS?

[MarkJohnHunter]

11:25 AM on 01/11/2008

We have a contest. Bring up one endorsement, for Obama, and people have to talk about Hillary Clinton. So what does Kerry's endorsement mean? Will Kerry get on the phone and raise money and get more endorsements for Obama? If he does, then his endorsement means something. This is at least a political endorsement, instead of the Oprah book of the month list. Will Oprah get on the phone for Obama? Follow through also works in golf and tennis.

Mark John Hunter - Alpena, Michigan

[wrabbitt]

10:57 AM on 01/11/2008

Thats the best way to lose an election ,to have a entrenched, set in his ways,Rich, very old man to say he will back you! the people have had enough of Congress's inability to do anything. Anyone who has been in the office for more than two terms is unable to see the real issues, and most of all care for the people, how many earmarks did Byrd shove down our throats? Case in point! Ted has been there since god was a child. Enough !

[Dajo]

10:52 AM on 01/11/2008

Ted Kennedy has always been smarted and more Liberal that Kerry. I therefore believe that Kennedy will support either Clinton or Edwards.
IMO, Obama is IMO, to his peril, shifting too far to the right. He is quickly becoming the darling of the Neo-Cons and the Faux News Pundants.

[marcialosangeles]

08:49 AM on 01/11/2008

Does everyone at the Huffington Post have to pass a litmus test--Anti-Hillary and you can blog with us?
If Barack Obama were Ms. Baraka Obama she would still be on the Senate floor fighting for good committee assignments.
I really don't get it--are we looking for a speech-maker?

[Amberlass]

08:35 AM on 01/11/2008

I recall that Adolph Hitler was also a great orator. He just was not a great leader. I hope people are not looking for someone who just gives good speeches. What we need in this country is a great leader. I believe that person is Hillary Clinton.

[Purple Girl]

08:11 AM on 01/11/2008

Who listens to Teddy any more. Infact who is listening to any of the corporate plants anymore. We gave you all an inch (of power & influence and you took the mile (and their money). the last 40 yrs have been a serious of Con Games- WE have been the Marks- and we have paid the price. "WE WON'T GET FOOLED AGAIN!"
Not even by the False Icons.

[Dansden]

08:08 AM on 01/11/2008

John EDWARDS did OUTSHINE Kerry....everyone outshines Kerry!
When your wife owns you,
you can't expect that husband to be much of a fighter.....
John Edwards will fight for the working middle class and THE RIGHT-WING ESTABLISHMENT ELITE KNOW IT! Would love to see Edwards take it to the 'swift-boaters' when he is nominated....that will be a slam-dunk on the
Republican fake Americans.......

[SteveRoach]

07:09 AM on 01/11/2008

In April 1985, freshman Sen. John Kerry, along with Sen. Tom Harkin, ventured to Nicaragua to meet with President Daniel Ortega, a Marxist revolutionary who received aid from the Soviet Union. Kerry, with no consultation with the administration or the State Department, decided to negotiate with Ortega.

At this time, President Ronald Reagan and a bipartisan majority in Congress were aiding Contra Rebels in Nicaragua trying to overthrow Ortega's Sandinista regime, which had been sponsoring communist guerrilla and terrorist groups from neighboring countries.

President Ortega used Kerry as propoganda and went to Moscow to seek $200 million more in Soviet support.

The road to failure in foreign relations is paved with good intentions from an inexperienced leader.