Kerry, Gephardt meeting ignites gossip

[chimpymustgo]

By JAMES KUHNHENN

Knight Ridder Newspapers


WASHINGTON - In a rare detour from his presidential campaign, Sen. John Kerry secluded himself Wednesday in his U.S. Capitol "hideaway" office with Rep. Richard Gephardt of Missouri, offering a fleeting glimpse of his highly secretive running-mate selection process.

-snip-

Kerry ignited speculation that he was approaching a decision on his choice for a running mate by taking a brief break from campaigning to be in Washington at the same time as two other potential partners, retired Gen. Wesley Clark and Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack.


At the Capitol, the Massachusetts Democrat skipped at least one vote on the Senate floor. He ensconced himself in his Capitol office with Capitol police blocking access to the halls that led to it.


It's unclear how long Gephardt stayed with Kerry. He was seen entering slightly before 4 p.m. He recorded a vote on the House floor around 6 p.m. Among his strengths are his extensive support from organized labor, his popularity in his home state of Missouri - expected to be a key swing state in November - and his depth of experience as a veteran congressional leader. Working against him, however, is a reputation as a bland personality whose time is past.



-snip-

Several Democrats mentioned as likely running mates have been actively campaigning on Kerry's behalf. Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, for example, is scheduled to headline a $1.5 million fund-raiser in Dallas next week. Edwards wasn't in Washington on Wednesday.


-snip-

Campaign officials also credit former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean for showing Democrats how to tap donors through the Internet and for forcing Kerry to forgo public matching money during the primaries, which liberated him from legal restrictions on his fund raising and spending.


http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/special_packages/election2004/8939798.htm

[CharlesGroce]

1. Among Gehphardt's Strength is

sucking all of the labor support, and then dropping out, thereby making the labor endoresements worth nothing. Labor leadership doesn't seem to mind though...

Gephardt is about the worst VP choice I can think of: he stood out in the Rose Garden with GW and the rest of the war criminals, and showed his pearly whites while Bush lied to the world. Even Tom Daschle refused to join them. But not Dick! He had a job to do and he did it well, and that job was selling out the Democratic party.

[FloridaPat]

2. Agree completely. Bush asked him to jump and he asked how hi.