Does anyone know whatever become of the $14M

[dmac]

that was left in the Kerry/Edwards campaign fund? And does anyone know who made the decision that the money would not be used for the '04 election? The reason I ask is I attended a reception for Edwards on Saturday and he mentioned it - actually a bit bitterly - and I guess that was the first time I realized that Edwards didn't know about it. This made me wonder if Edwards didn't know, then is it possible Kerry didn't know either? Who made the decision that they wouldn't use every last dime? DNC? Campaign managers? Who?

[JI7]

1. the campaign went into debt

the 14 million or however much it is now was the money raised during the primary campaign and that money could not be used after the convention since Kerry had accepted public funds.

of the public funds available they used all of it and even went into debt.

[dmac]

2. Thank you - but wouldn't you think Edwards would know that?

His comment was in response to a question someone raised about it and he answered (I felt) in a derogatory way - something to the effect of, if I had known about that money, you can be sure I would have made sure every cent was spent where you all intended it to go - into the campaign to get us elected. He even made some reference to Elizabeth's having just been diagnosed with cancer - and he seemed angry. To me, and perhaps I misunderstood, the implication was that Kerry and/or whomever was responsible for not emptying the coffers didn't put everything into getting them elected and that he was kept in the dark about this very important detail.

edited to say "angry" may be too strong a word, but certainly unhappy.

[JI7]

3. well, that's the point

because they DID use up all the money they were ablet to spend and even went into debt. so if someone asks about money that could have been used but wasn't then he wouldn't know about it.

as i said the 14 million figure that comes up is from the primary campaign and they could not use that money since Kerry accepted public funds.

[dmac]

4. I understand what you are saying and agree -

but it does seem a more appropriate response from Edwards would have been to explain that point - that they couldn't get at the 14M because it was primary money and Kerry accepted public funds. I have just had a hard time understanding his answer - and seeming bitterness.

[JI7]

5. i'm assuming he thought the person meant

money that was in the public funds which could be spent.

[Fly by night]

6. Kerry is donating some of the money to the DNC ...

for grassroots mobilization efforts -- I believe $1 million. And I also understand that he is setting up an election reform PAC with some of the $14 million, though I have no details.