AP: Dianne Feinstein Endorses Kerry

[DJcairo]

By The Associated Press

September 16, 2003, 2:10 PM EDT


SAN FRANCISCO -- Democrat John Kerry's presidential bid got an influential endorsement Tuesday from California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who praised him for having the "strength, experience, leadership and judgment to be an excellent president."

Feinstein is the state's senior senator and arguably the most popular politician in vote-rich California. She is one of only two senators to endorse Kerry's presidential bid so far -- the other being his Massachusetts colleague, Sen. Ted Kennedy.

In a statement, Feinstein said she was supporting Kerry for his leadership on a number of issues, including health care, tax policy and the environment. She also singled out his support for gun control and, specifically, a ban on assault weapons, which Feinstein wrote and is trying to extend over Republican objections.

"The assault weapon ban will expire next year," Feinstein wrote. "We need a president who will actively urge Congress to extend it, and John Kerry will do just that."

The endorsement comes at a critical time for the Massachusetts senator, who has seen his presumed front-runner status eclipsed in recent months by the surge of rival Howard Dean, the former Vermont governor.

A decorated Vietnam veteran who has tried to position himself as the best candidate to challenge President Bush on national security issues, Kerry faces competition Wesley Clark, the former supreme NATO commander who is poised to enter the Democratic race on Wednesday.

Other Democratic senators in the field include Bob Graham of Florida, Joe Lieberman of Connecticut and John Edwards of North Carolina, who formally launched his campaign Tuesday.

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