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Kerry's Cash May Buy '08 Loyalty
Roll Call (05-01-2006)
By By Nicole Duran ROLL CALL STAFF

Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) is doing his best to turn lemons into lemonade.

He lost his bid to become president in 2004, but that campaign left him with an invaluable commodity: an e-mail list 3 million strong that he can call upon to rally support for causes and candidates - or another presidential run.

These days Kerry has been putting it to work on behalf of Democratic candidates, party committees and affiliated groups, making him the biggest donor among potential 2008 presidential candidates this cycle.

What that might reap him in terms of loyalty and help should he choose to again seek the presidency, however, remains to be seen.

Since losing to President Bush, Kerry's political action committee, Keeping America's Promise, has given about $1.2 million to candidates, far more than the leadership PACs of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), former Senator and Kerry's 2004 vice presidential running mate John Edwards (D-N.C.), Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.), or any of the other potential White House hopefuls.

Using his federal campaign account, his old presidential primary account and his e-mail list, Kerry has donated, raised or helped Democrats collect more than $7.5 million since November 2004.

"Give me five more John Kerry's," says Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.). "He's a fighter, and he puts his money where his mouth is."

Kerry's efforts through March 31 have benefited 110 local, state and federal candidates and 31 party committees, according to information provided by his political aides. Of those, 40 are House incumbents, 11 are incumbent Senators, 26 are House challengers, and six are Senate hopefuls.

He has traveled to 24 states, and insists that he does at least one event for a Democratic candidate or party while on the road, according to his political aides.

"He set out immediately after the 2004 election to help Democrats win in the 2005 and 2006 elections and beyond and to build grassroots support for Democratic candidates," said John Geisser, executive director of Keeping America's Promise.

He cut $1 million checks to the Democratic National Committee and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee from funds left over from his presidential primary account shortly after losing the presidency. He gave the DCCC $500,000.

Kerry's advisers speak regularly with DCCC and DSCC officials before he decides which candidates to help.

Kerry considers a number of factors. Veterans, especially of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, are a high priority for him, Geisser said. So far, the decorated Vietnam War veteran has helped nine vets launch challenges to GOP incumbents this cycle.

Geisser said Kerry has also "sought to help Democratic challengers and incumbents who are in key competitive races that have the potential to determine the outcome of the national elections in November."

Kerry's involvement can help land a previously low-profile House candidate on the national stage.

A Kerry e-mail "has the ability to transform an election," said Jenny Backus, a Kerry consultant. "Not everyone knows who Rahm and Reid are; they all know who John Kerry is."

Kerry, whose fourth Senate term expires in 2008, has said he will announce by the end of the year what his political future holds. By staying so active and visible and reaching out to so many potential officeholders, Kerry appears to be laying the groundwork to seek the presidential nomination again.

"He's got a lot of chits out there," said Emanuel said, who has already pledged his support to Clinton should she run.

Whether all those chits will be honored is another question.

None of the campaigns Kerry is helping that were contacted for this article were willing to line up with another Kerry White House bid just yet.

"A lot of the potential presidential contenders are helpful to us," said David Cohen, campaign manager for Jill Derby, the all-but-certain Democratic nominee in the race to replace Rep. Jim Gibbons (R-Nev.). "We've talked with Wes Clark and his people - he's someone we'd love to work with - Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), Mark Warner sent us a $5,000 PAC check."

But Kerry has raised the most for Derby, a member of the state Board of Regents. She was included in an e-mail Kerry sent out to his JohnKerry.com list seeking funds for several candidates. The solicitation brought about $17,000 into Derby's coffers.

"I think Democrats see the West and this district as sort of a bellwether for the changing tide, and as a result it becomes important nationally, so I think that anybody who's paying attention to the presidential would pay attention to this district," Cohen said.

But if candidates in Republican-leaning districts like Derby are happy to take Kerry's money, are they less willing to stump with him in public?

"I think every campaign ponders those sorts of things, and we would certainly think about it, but John Kerry and what he did to encourage her into the race - that means a lot to her and we find him very helpful," Cohen said.

National Guard veteran Tim Walz, who is hoping to knock off Rep. Gil Gutknecht (R) in Minnesota's 1st district, which favored Bush over Kerry 51 percent to 47 percent, would have no qualms about making a public appearance with Kerry, according to his campaign.

"He's very popular here," said Walz's campaign manager, Kerry Greeley. " We're talking about bringing him to the district; we certainly would like to have him come."

JohnKerry.com channeled $25,000 to Walz's upstart campaign.

One longtime national Democratic operative not affiliated with Kerry who did not want to be named said Democratic candidates, even those in Republican territory, have less to fear about being seen with Democratic surrogates than in years past.

"I think Republicans have more to answer for than our guys this time," the source said.

A longtime Democratic operative in Washington state said that Kerry is politically savvy enough to steer clear of some areas.

"He knows where he's helpful, and he knows where he's not," the source said. "He's not going to put his arm around a candidate in , for example, but he'll raise money for that candidate."

A spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee said he welcomes Kerry's active role in House races.

NRCC Communications Director Carl Forti paid Kerry a backhanded compliment that also took a swipe at House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

"It's not quite as bad as Nancy Pelosi trying to go into some of these districts, but it's close.

"In a lot of places that John Kerry is going, the districts weren't totally supportive of him in the election, and they aren't totally supportive of him now," Forti continued. "You have a lot of candidates out there right now who have not taken a lot of positions, and then they're up there with Kerry, so whatever Kerry's position is, it rubs off on them."

Considering the donating and fundraising bender that Kerry is on, most Democrats have decided that letting Kerry headline an event or pen a donation solicitation is worth risking a taunting news release from their Republican counterparts.

Kerry has assisted Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) in his tough re-election fight. Nelson's campaign manager, Chad Clanton, said Nelson would be proud to share a stage with Kerry - even though Kerry lost the Sunshine State to Bush by about 380,000 votes.

"Sen. Nelson and Sen. Kerry are colleagues and good friends, Clanton said. "We're gratified for his help."