MSNBC reporting Kerry is going to receive Secret Service protection soon

[NNN0LHI]

Good news.

Don

[madfloridian]

1. Done deal?

Wow!

Voters, back off!

[Freddie Stubbs]

2. Any of the primary candidates are eligible for it

But they need to request it.

[BootinUp]

4. LOL

Yea it seems pretty inevitable.

[madfloridian]

5. You made the trip, huh?

:hi:

[BootinUp]

8. It just feels like

the right thing to do now. My guy said to support JK, and I trust his judgement.

thanks for the hello :hi:

[NewYorkerfromMass]

3. I thought they all automatically got some since '72 (Wallace)

Ever since the attempt on Wallace I thought SS was automatic to a candidate.

[The Blue Knight]

6. Nope they have to request it.

[Punkingal]

7. He needs it..

I was in a huge crowd of people waiting for him at the Nevada caucus, and when he came down the line, he was surrounded by big Union guys for protection. He could easily have been overwhelmed in the crush were it not for them. It is frightening to think about how vulnerable the candidates really are. You have to respect their courage. Senator Harry Reid was there also, and he had Secret Service protection, which surprised me. I guess because he is the Minority Whip.

[BootinUp]

9. Yep

After Bobby Kennedy I think they beefed up protection of candidates for POTUS.

[kalian]

10. I was under the impression....

that only definite candidates were issued an SS detail. Its not
a question of whether or not they request it (remember: this costs
LOTS of money...), its a question of whether or not they are
the final candidates and about to become president.

I don't like this at all.

[Freddie Stubbs]

11. Primary candidates are eligible

RFK was killed during the primary season.

[mmonk]

12. The more he is pushed

as the presumptive nominee, the more chance some whacko could try something.

[Freddie Stubbs]

13. Jesse Jackson recieved plenty of death threats

and he was never close to being the frontrunner.

[mmonk]

14. I was speaking of increased chances

not that candidates that weren't front runners shouldn't have it.

[2004Donkeys]

15. Kerry has had private bodyguards for a while now

n/t

[JasonBerry]

16. But

The Secret Service they ain't.

[NNN0LHI]

18. Pretty close though I will bet

I am sure they ain't no slouches. If you know what I mean?

Don

[cally]

17. I'm glad

Kerry needs protection. I'm always somewhat amazed how little protection the candidates have in the early stages. Kerry is much more well known now and needs protection from the whackos.

[arwalden]

19. He Wasn't Already??? I'm surprised.

What's the break-point? Overall liklihood of being nominated? Current delegate count? Total candidates left standing after a certain date? At the candidate's request?

-- Allen

[NNN0LHI]

20. I am not sure myself Allen

I have seen some suggestions in the above posts but MSNBC did not say, and I don't have a clue. Sorry.

Don