Kennedy faces tough choice in 2008 race

Kennedy faces tough choice in 2008 race

By ANDREW MIGA, Associated Press Writer Mon Oct 1, 3:47 AM ET

WASHINGTON - Democratic presidential contenders flocked to Sen. Edward Kennedy's 75th birthday party earlier this year.

Sen. Barack Obama showed up at Kennedy's home with a bottle of wine as a gift. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton pulled Kennedy aside to schmooze. Sen. Christopher Dodd needled Kennedy about getting older.

The shower of personal attention underscored Kennedy's star power in the White House race. The liberal senator's endorsement is among the most coveted by the eight Democratic contenders.

The birthday party was also a reminder of the tough endorsement choice Kennedy faces as the 2008 contest unfolds.

The Massachusetts senator has close ties to several candidates who are eagerly seeking his support. Whatever he decides, he's bound to disappoint some longtime friends and colleagues.

"It's going to be difficult choosing," Kennedy told The Associated Press. "I've got a lot of friends who want to be president."

more...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071001/ap_po/kennedy_endorsement

But at the same time if we can get a good Senator to run for his spot and a few terms that would be good too.

It was all about who he would endorse for president...He's not up for reelection until 20012, having been reelected last in 06....

although I suspect his heart is with Obama.

Seriously. He "IS" a Liberal Democrat. She is not. My guess is that he will support someone who is more in line with his views--actually if I had to guess I would guess Dodd.

be his heartfelt choice as well, although he and Biden have a long history as well.

idealogically, and honestly the candidate who most resembles Kennedy is Edwards.

Why in the hell do people here keep claiming Edwards is liberal?

He voted for the war, helped write the PATRIOT Act, supported NCLB without providing funding, supported the rape of Yucca Mountain, ignored his constituency in North Carolina and did virtually nothing for the poor when he was a senator. Now he wants to say "Oops, I was wrong" to his ENTIRE Senate record and people believe he's slightly right of Kucinich?

Amazing.

to the "Jury" type of voters......those who only know or only remember the facts that they are told about at the time pertaining only to the current case (current presidential run). Any facts dealing with a different time or matter are not taken into consideration when making deliberations.

in this case, what is the message he wants to deliver: ready to choose or ready to wait?

For the rest, this is the typical substanceless AP report.

I suspect he will hold his powder and work his ass for the eventual nominee....

Non-story...

and, in fact, endorsed him again for 2008 as early as February 2005 at a Kennedy Center event honoring Kerry in 2005, when he spoke remotely as he had returned to DC for preliminary work on the bankruptcy bill that he was managing for The Democrats. He repeated that endorsement many many times - whenever asked and whenever rumors floated that he was no longer supporting him. He also followed Kerry's speech saying he was not running with a very kind wonderful speech of his own. (Kennedy's 2008 endorsements were stronger than the strong support he came him in 2004.)

Therefore if he favored any 2008 candidate as much, he would use his leverage.

He has been a senator since 1962... That means he has seen eleven presidential campaigns...He made one pre-Massachusetts primary endorsement in 04- of the junior senator from his state... I'd have to look but I suspect he endorsed his own brother in 68 and Dukakis in 88 too...

So we can say that Ted Kennedy hasn't endorsed anybody but fellow Massachusetts legislators and family members in forty five years for president prior to his state's primary...

Ted endorses family members ( Bobby 68) and politicians from his home state (Dukakis 88 and Kerry 04) prior to the Massachusetts primary...

I suspect he will hold his powder and work his ass for the eventual nominee....

Non-story...

Maybe not the best idea ever.

Kennedy's relationship with Obama does not stretch nearly as far back, but the two have struck up a friendship.

"He gave me a good bottle of wine," Kennedy joked of Obama's gift. "I'm sure it was an American wine."

Above all else, Kennedy said, he is looking for a candidate who can light a spark with voters. The policy differences between the candidates are relatively small, he said.

"Inspiration," Kennedy said. "I'm looking for a candidate able to galvanize the country to get things done. I want to find the candidate who can inspire people. That's what we need. That's what our party needs."

He said he expects the crowded field "might winnow down by mid-December. That's when people really get engaged in presidential politics."

http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=3673183