Joke Jilts Kerry

Top Kerry Supporter: Botched Joke Helped Trigger Decision Not To Run | TPMCafe: "Top Kerry Supporter: Botched Joke Helped Trigger Decision Not To Run
By Greg Sargent | bio

So I just got off the phone with a prominent supporter of John Kerry with whom the Senator recently discussed the question of whether he should run for President again. And this person said that the reaction to Kerry's botched joke -- combined with the fact that top donors and organizers were rapidly committing to other candidates -- was key in tipping the scales against running again for the White House.

'It was too steep a hill to climb,' this supporter tells me. 'Too many major figures are in this race. Too many major donors had signed on with other candidates.'

The key for Kerry, however, according to this backer, was that the reaction to the botched joke triggered memories of the 2004 loss and made him doubt that Dems would take another chance on him..."

You're doing the right thing, John. Though I would love to see you go after the Swiftboaters, it would be a major distraction in the race. And we all need to keep our eyes on the prize.