Kerry in Nevada -- nice article!

Kerry comes out swinging,but this time for Obama
By J. Patrick Coolican

Fri, Jan 18, 2008 (2 a.m.)

Sen. John Kerry no doubt has some advice for Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, whom he just endorsed in the presidential race.

But the Massachusetts senator isn’t saying what the advice is. “That’s private,” he said in an interview.

The advice isn’t hard to discern: Kerry was quick to counterpunch for Obama after his chief opponent, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, landed some blows.

“I think any effort to suppress the vote in the Democratic Party, any effort to limit access to polling places, is not the future of the Democratic Party. It’s old politics and it’s inappropriate,” he said, referring to a lawsuit filed by Clinton allies to shut down special caucus sites on the Strip.

Kerry then defended Obama’s record on the nuclear repository project at Yucca Mountain, which Obama opposes. Clinton’s attacks on Obama, saying he’s aligned with supporters who favor the dump, are disingenuous, Kerry said.

“It’s the kind of politics I expect from the other party, not ours,” he said.

The stories of real people I've met across the country keep me inspired and energized throughout this process. I had a great day yesterday, traveling across the state with Senator John Kerry and talking to folks in community centers and church basements about the issues that are important to them.

John Kerry talks Nevada politics


When John Kerry, former presidential candidate and junior Massachusetts Democratic senator, calls on a Thursday morning, you don't say you're too busy to talk.

At least that's the thought that went through my mind when Kerry did call the Bonanza office.

Kerry recently announced his support for Barack Obama, D-Ill., so I knew his call was part of an effort to rally votes before Nevada's caucuses tomorrow.

But, I tried to steer our conversation more toward Nevada's role in primary season as an early caucus state.

"Because it's earlier you have to be more engaged, you have to be here more," Kerry said.

Of course our conversation inevitably turned toward the Las Vegas teacher union's lawsuit and the Clinton campaign's remarks about Obama's record on Yucca Mountain.

"What they're doing is in the old style of doing things and that's exactly what needs to change," Kerry said.

Obama gains access to big dollars through Kerry’s endorsement
By Kevin Bogardus
Posted: 01/18/08 12:01 AM
Presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) is taking advantage of Sen. John Kerry’s (D-Mass.) coveted e-mail list as he continues to campaign throughout the vital primary states.


By receiving access, Obama has a direct link to core Democratic supporters who could help the candidate make stronger inroads with the party’s base. Kerry’s e-mail list is considered to be the one of the more accurate sets of data on strong party supporters.


The campaign has wasted little time using it, firing off two e-mail messages in the past week to the roughly 3 million members on it — one from the candidate and the other from Kerry.


Kerry, the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, gave the first-term senator the imprimatur of the party’s establishment with his endorsement. More importantly, Kerry lent a valuable fundraising resource to Obama as the Illinois Democrat prepares for January contests in Nevada and South Carolina, and then in 22 states on Feb. 5. E-mail blasts calling for contributions can produce quick fundraising results for campaigns as well, potentially in the millions of dollars.


The Massachusetts senator has been a record-breaking fundraiser for his party, raising about $33 million for candidates in the 2006 midterm elections. A third of that money came through the e-mail list, according to a former Kerry fundraiser.


Kerry is also going beyond fundraising to boost Obama’s campaign. He’s hitting the road to stump for Obama and talking his Senate colleague up with reporters.


“I think the worst endorsements are when someone supports you on paper alone,” Kerry said through a spokesman. “So I want to bring to bear every resource I’ve got and ask my friends to do the same, whether it’s our 3 million-person e-mail community that’s fought so hard to elect Democrats, or whatever I can do to spread the message by traveling for Barack, and just plain old-fashioned organizing.”