Politics

Sen. Kerry Revs Up For 2004

January 7, 2002 / 4:03 PM EST / AP

U.S. Sen. John Kerry is aggressively preparing for a possible run for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination, raising millions of dollars, hiring staffers and consultants with national experience, traveling and launching a new Web site.

Like every other potential candidate in the Democratic field, Kerry won't say if he's running. He says it's too soon, and that he wants to focus on this year's re-election campaign in Massachusetts, where he's up for a fourth, six-year Senate term.

But Kerry is already trying to boost his profile, including by launching www.johnkerry.com on Monday.

The red-white-and-blue site features photos of Kerry with his wife, multimillionaire Teresa Heinz, and as a young Navy officer of 35 years ago; testimonials from supporters; a Massachusetts map that outlines what Kerry's done for each county; and links for campaign donors and volunteers.

The site was designed by Ben Green, the former director of Web strategy for Al Gore.

"I haven't been coy about the fact that when the time comes, I would like to be in a position of strength where, if I feel I can advance the issues I care about and I've made the decision with my family, the pieces are in place," Kerry said recently when asked about preparations for a possible 2004 run.

Kerry, 58, considered running in 2000 but concluded he didn't have enough time to raise the more than $20 million he'd need. Kerry said at the time that he and his wife, the widow of Sen. John Heinz, R-Pa., decided it would be inappropriate to use their own money.

So far, Kerry doesn't have a Senate opponent and is raising money that could eventually be used for a presidential primary.

Aides say he brought in more than $4 million in 2001, though final figures aren't available yet. Of that, $1 million was raised through two big events: a concert with Don Henley, James Taylor and Carole King and a Wall Street fundraiser hosted by former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin.

Democrats and independent analysts say Kerry must become better known nationally to successfully campaign for the nomination, possibly by emerging as the party's point man on international affairs. He's a senior member of the Foreign Relations Committee and a decorated Vietnam veteran who led protests against the war.

"It's kind of a necessity now to have a good foreign policy background if you want to be president," said Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., who organized a day of events for Kerry in his home state last summer.

Last month, Kerry joined the more prominent, potential Democratic contenders in forming a political action committee to pay for political travel and to help the campaigns of other Democrats. The Citizen Soldier Fund is named for those who fought in World War II and built the nation in the postwar period, a model of patriotic sacrifice that Kerry frequently invokes in speeches.

One thing Kerry says he won't do is wait for Gore to decide whether he'll again seek the nomination. Of the potetial Democratic contenders, only Gore's vice presidential running mate, Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, has pledged not to run if Gore does.

"It's a decision about what you can offer the people you want to represent," Kerry said. "I have great respect for Al Gore, I worked very hard for his election, but his decision will not affect what I will do."

Along with Gore, Lieberman, Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina and House Democratic leader Dick Gephardt of Missouri, Kerry is among the more active potential candidates who have already visited states with early presidential contests such as Iowa and New Hampshire.

Other Democrats whose names pop up in 2004 discussions: Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota; Govs. Howard Dean of Vermont, Gray Davis of California, Roy Barnes of Georgia; and Sens. Joe Biden of Delaware, Christopher Dodd of Connecticut and Russ Feingold of Wisconsin.

In upcoming weeks, Kerry is hosting a reception with mayors and a Democratic National Committee fundraiser with trial lawyers at his Washington home. He's delivering a speech on helping cities hurt by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and raising money in Florida, where he'll be attending a Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee meeting.