Kerry demands secrecy amid VP search [View All]

[Nicholas_J]

Kerry demands secrecy amid VP search
WASHINGTON (AP) — John Kerry sought to curb rampant speculation Thursday about his vice presidential search, taking issue with leaks from campaign aides "who don't know what they're talking about."
"I'm the only person who knows when I will" announce a running mate "or what even direction I might take. And I intend to keep it that way," the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee said as fresh clues about his intentions emerged.

Kerry, a four-term senator with a history of publicly chastising his staff, smiled and chuckled as he recalled that he "read with amusement about aides who don't know what they're talking about with respect to my schedule" for announcing a running mate. A day earlier, his meeting with Rep. Dick Gephardt became public despite efforts to keep it under wraps.

Gephardt, a former House minority leader from Missouri, is believed to be a top candidate for the Kerry ticket.

Even as Kerry clamped down against leaks, a senior Democratic official said the senator's team was promoting the prospects of Gephardt and a handful of other "safe" picks as Kerry intensified his deliberations

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/president/2004-06-17-Veepstakes_x.htm