Kerry endorses Obama, snubs Edwards/Hillary

[JaJae]

I saw on Google news either the Reuters or AP headline once read he "snubbed" them.. But it now doesn't read that way so I picked the AP article for better content. It seems they used the word snub in the opening paragraph to make up for the headline though...

Former Dem nominee Kerry endorses Obama - Yahoo! News
Former Dem nominee Kerry endorses Obama

By NEDRA PICKLER and ANDREW MIGA, Associated Press Writer 27 minutes ago

John Kerry, the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, gave Barack Obama a timely endorsement Thursday, snubbing Hillary Rodham Clinton as well as his own vice presidential running mate.

Kerry came to South Carolina to embrace Obama, two weeks before the state's primary and with Obama needing a boost after Clinton's emotional victory over him in New Hampshire.

Quoting a black American hero in endorsing the man who hopes to be the first black president, Kerry told a cheering crowd, "Martin Luther King said that the time is always right to do what is right." Now is the time, Kerry said, to declare "that Barack Obama can be, will be and should be the next president of the United States."

The Massachusetts senator said there were other candidates he had worked with and respected but Obama was best able to bring Americans together.

"Who better than Barack Obama to turn a new page in American politics so that Democrat, independent and Republican alike can look to leadership that unites to find the common ground?" Kerry said. "That's what this is about."

Former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, the third contender in the Democratic presidential race, was Kerry's vice presidential running mate in 2004. Despite their political alliance, the two men were not close personally and differed behind the scenes on campaign strategy in a race that President Bush won.

Edwards responded to word of the endorsement with a diplomatic statement: "Our country and our party are stronger because of John's service, and I respect his decision. When we were running against each other and on the same ticket, John and I agreed on many issues."

Edwards defeated Kerry in the 2004 South Carolina Democratic primary. Kerry had considered running again but decided a year ago he would not.

Kerry dismissed Obama critics who say the Illinois senator lacks the experience to be president. And he took a swipe at Clinton, saying, "Some have suggested in this campaign that Barack is guilty of raising 'false hopes.' ... My friends, the only charge that rings false is the one that tells you not to hope for a better tomorrow."

In a debate in New Hampshire, the New York senator said in comparing her ability and Obama's to fulfill pledges to bring about change: "I think it is clear that what we need is somebody who can deliver change. And we don't need to be raising the false hopes of our country about what can be delivered. The best way to know what change I will produce is to look at the changes that I've already made."

Returning to the subject, Obama said when he took the microphone from Kerry: "In the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope."

Obama supporters were hoping the timing of Kerry's endorsement could give him a lift as he seeks to put his New Hampshire primary loss behind him.

Obama praised Kerry's Vietnam War service, calling him a patriot and a man of conviction.

Kerry was Obama's political benefactor once before, selecting the relatively unknown Illinois senatorial candidate to deliver the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston. It was Obama's first turn in the national spotlight and helped launch him on a remarkable ascent that has made him one of two leading contenders for the party's presidential nomination only four years later.

Kerry had withheld his endorsement, hoping to have an impact on the race and avoid the fate of fellow Democrat Al Gore, the 2000 nominee who endorsed Howard Dean in 2004 shortly before the former Vermont governor's campaign imploded. Gore has made no endorsement so far this year.

While Kerry has been close to Clinton's husband, the former president, he was incensed in 2006 when she chided him after Kerry suggested that people who don't go to school "get stuck in Iraq." Aides said Kerry meant to jab at Bush and say "get us stuck in Iraq," and that he didn't appreciate Clinton piling onto the criticism he was already getting for the remark.

Kerry's own hopes to run for president this year fizzled with that botched comment. For many Democrats, his words revived bitter memories of his missteps in 2004. troop withdrawal deadlines. In another area, he has backed environmental causes, writing a book with his wife on the issue.

Kerry should be able to provide some organizational and fundraising muscle to Obama.

Since losing the 2004 race, Kerry has kept a national network of supporters intact. He has an e-mail network of 3 million supporters, according to aides. He also has traveled extensively raising millions of dollars for Democratic candidates nationwide.

The Republican National Committee was dismissive about Thursday's endorsement, branding Kerry and Obama "liberal soul mates."

___

Associated Press Writer Glen Johnson contributed to this report.

Interesting article. Kerry has political ties to Bill Clinton and was the running mate of Edwards 4 years ago. Yet he choose to snub them both for his endorsement and gave it to Obama at a key time in the campaign. He even made a statement directly attacking Hillary's campaign.

[motivez]

I don't think he and Edwards really got along that well, I remember reading something about Edwards not fully getting behind him on some things, soI'm not too shocked that he didn't endorse him

[JaJae]

Originally Posted by motivez

I don't think he and Edwards really got along that well, I remember reading something about Edwards not fully getting behind him on some things, soI'm not too shocked that he didn't endorse him

Yea I've heard similar. They looked like they were madly in love in front of the cameras almost looking like they were kissing half the time. But when the cameras went off they disagreed on how to push forward with the campaign. Bad chemistry. Whatever the case may be though, I don't think people were fully expecting Kerry to endorse Obama if he was going to endorse anyone at all. Kerry lost in SC though so I'm not too sure how much this would help.

[motivez]

I think Kerry might have been successful if he had listened to Edwards tbh

Kerry was the one who decided not to start fighting back against the Swift Boat ads because he didn't want to dignify their bullshit with a response.

[kinggovernor]

I heard Edwards on the radio today, he said that Obama hired alot of Kerry staffers to get the campaign running and that he wasn't surprised by the endorsement at all.

However, if I was Obama I would politely accept but not have Kerry stump for me. It goes against his message of "change"

[JaJae]

Originally Posted by kinggovernor

I heard Edwards on the radio today, he said that Obama hired alot of Kerry staffers to get the campaign running and that he wasn't surprised by the endorsement at all.

However, if I was Obama I would politely accept but not have Kerry stump for me. It goes against his message of "change"

Kerry never got anywhere though other than senator. the message of change is agaisnt the status quo of Bush and possibly to a larger extent Clinton.

[ballz2wallz]

I'm not sure people care enough about Kerry to really care who he endorses...do they?

[Thorgrim]

This would have helped...in New Hampshire...I don't know what he expects...the next 3 races Obama is on the ballot are states Kerry lost

He's become a better Senator since his loss, and you take whatever endorsements you can get

But a Senator Kennedy would mean more, and the Al Gore endorsement is what many are looking for...although even that doesn't really actually win you votes, Oprah was his biggest endorsement he'll ever get and the numbers (for what they're worth) show he was already rising before that and when she announced...he started to level off

[JaJae]

I think if Gore endorses anyone it'll go to Hillary. I don't think he has the balls to slight to slight the Clintons. He'll either endorse Hillary or no one I would think.

[kinggovernor]

Originally Posted by JaJae

Kerry never got anywhere though other than senator. the message of change is agaisnt the status quo of Bush and possibly to a larger extent Clinton.

a thought it was a complete anti-Washington message

[kinggovernor]

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

This would have helped...in New Hampshire...I don't know what he expects...the next 3 races Obama is on the ballot are states Kerry lost

He's become a better Senator since his loss, and you take whatever endorsements you can get

But a Senator Kennedy would mean more, and the Al Gore endorsement is what many are looking for...although even that doesn't really actually win you votes, Oprah was his biggest endorsement he'll ever get and the numbers (for what they're worth) show he was already rising before that and when she announced...he started to level off

I think a Gore endorsement would be huge and might even seal it

[RMNIXON]

Originally Posted by motivez

I don't think he and Edwards really got along that well, I remember reading something about Edwards not fully getting behind him on some things, soI'm not too shocked that he didn't endorse him

They did not win South Carolina in 2004.

[RMNIXON]

Originally Posted by JaJae

I think if Gore endorses anyone it'll go to Hillary. I don't think he has the balls to slight to slight the Clintons. He'll either endorse Hillary or no one I would think.

I think he will stay silent until a winner is clear. Gore has no love for the Clinton's. Without their scandals and personal antics he could have won 2000. Instead he had to distance himself from them durring the campaign but take credit for what they acomplished politically. A hard act.

How often do you see Gore with the Clinton's? But you see Bush Sr. pal around with Bill all the time. That should tell you something about who is bitter and who is not!

Gore will probably hold his tounge until he gets an invite to speak at the convention.