[Mb-civic] A reality check for Kerry - Joan Vennochi - Boston Globe Op-Ed

[William Swiggard]

A reality check for Kerry

By Joan Vennochi, Globe Columnist  |  October 16, 2005

THE GHOST of elections past is haunting Massachusetts.

His name is John Kerry.

The other day, Senator Edward M. Kennedy called Kerry an ''able, gifted, 
and talented political leader" and said that if Kerry runs again for 
president, ''I will support him."

Kerry should value that kind of public loyalty, because privately it is 
hard to find in Massachusetts. Some Bay State Democrats who were part of 
team Kerry are eager to forget about the 2004 campaign and openly wince 
when they hear his name. Hillary Clinton already has a hold on many hearts.

But like an old boyfriend who won't give up, Kerry isn't going gently 
into that political good night.

The media get urgent updates about Kerry press availabilities, and 
Kerry's 2004 supporters get urgent e-mail updates about the senator's 
latest political opinions on Hurricane Katrina relief or Supreme Court 
nominee Harriet Miers. Kerry's past supporters are also approached 
regularly for political contributions and invited to dine with ''John 
and Teresa."

It's too early to write Kerry's political obituary, but it's not too 
early for a serious political reality check.

 From a local and national perspective, it is now conventional wisdom: 
Democrats view Clinton as the frontrunner for the 2008 nomination.

But because presidential politics is first about money, a second, 
credible Kerry presidential campaign is not impossible: ''John Kerry 
represents the most likely person to be the credible alternative," says 
Steven Grossman, the past Democratic National Committe chairman and 
Howard Dean presidential campaign chairman. Grossman attributes Kerry's 
status to his fund-raising capability, coveted e-mail list of 3 million, 
and battle-tested experience.

At the same time, Grossman says a Kerry presidential re-run will be 
controversial, especially in Massachusetts, where so many supporters 
were heartily disappointed by the 2004 loss.

Ask Michael Dukakis. Massachusetts is tough on losers.

The movers and shakers who once saw Kerry as their ticket to a Cabinet 
position or a private White House soiree now see a failed presidential 
candidate. It is especially hard for Kerry to accept defeat and the 
loser label, because of one four letter word -- Ohio. Just 60,000 votes 
in Ohio separated him from George W. Bush and electoral college victory. 
And Bush's plummeting poll numbers must hurt, too.

But there's no crying in baseball or politics, just moving on.

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/10/16/a_reality_check_for_kerry/
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