Dem prospects jockey to run at Kerry's side

[AmyStrange]

Posted 6/16/2004 9:48 PM
Dem prospects jockey to run at Kerry's side
By Jill Lawrence, USA TODAY

FROM: http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/president/2004-06-16-veeps-usat_x.htm?POE=NEWISVA
"Help Elect John Kerry and Change This Country!" the e-mail exhorts. It's from John Edwards, the North Carolina senator who impressed many Democrats during the primary season but now is trying to impress the only one who can offer him the chance to be vice president: John Kerry.

"During the campaign, I got to know John Kerry very well, and I saw up-close what he's made of," Edwards wrote in the solicitation this month. He urged Democrats to "reach deep down and work non-stop" for Kerry, and click the "contribute today" button linking to Kerry's Web site.

Kerry's vice-presidential search process, run by finance executive Jim Johnson, has been shrouded in near-secrecy. That's at the direction of the candidate, who was vetted himself four years ago when Al Gore was looking for a ticket mate.

Still, there are some highly visible Democrats going through what amount to auditions: Can they raise money? Rouse a crowd? Triumph in a TV interview? Develop fan bases among Floridians, blue-collar workers, veterans or another useful group?

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