Kerry marches on as scandal rumours fail to ignite

Scottsman ^ | 2/16/04 | ALEX MASSIE IN WASHINGTON

[AgThorn]

SO FAR unscathed by rumours of a two-year-long affair with a 24-year-old journalist, the United States senator John Kerry could be just 24 hours away from sealing victory for the Democratic Party presidential nomination.

His crushing victories in the Nevada and Washington DC caucuses on Saturday, have tightened his grip on the nomination. Tomorrow’s primary in Wisconsin may be the last realistic chance Senator John Edwards and Howard Dean have of stopping his march to victory.

It is likely that only a major crisis or embarrassment can now prevent Mr Kerry from winning the right to challenge George Bush this November. And so far, the only potential scandal is not even being discussed in most mainstream media.

The woman in question is believed to be Alexandra Polier who studied journalism at Columbia University in New York City and then worked for the Associated Press. She also worked as an intern for Mr Kerry.

Recently she left the US for Kenya where she has reportedly been staying with the parents of her fiancé Yaron Schwartzman, an Israeli whose family now lives in Kenya. A friend of Ms Polier was quoted yesterday as saying: "This is not going to go away. What actually happened is much nastier than is being reported."

The Poliers’ house in Malvern, Pennsylvania was besieged by a camp of 20 reporters and cameramen at the weekend but the family refused to elaborate on previous statements quoted by the Sun in which Ms Polier’s father, Terrance, said: "He’s not the sort of guy I would choose to be with my daughter. I think he’s a sleaze-ball. I did kind of wonder if my daughter didn’t get that kind of feeling herself."

Mr Kerry’s response to the rumours about his personal life was unevasive: "I just deny it categorically. It's rumour. It’s untrue. Period."

Yet the story of his alleged infidelity has refused to disappear completely. Mr Kerry’s denial that there was anything in his past that could embarrass him was splashed on the front pages of both the tabloid New York Post and New York Daily News on Saturday. Conservative websites and some talk radio stations have been buzzing with speculation.

American television has thus far studiously avoided the story, although viewers have been treated to the surreal spectacle of pundits on programmes such as CNN’s Reliable Sources talking about why they can’t talk about the rumours swirling around the Massachusetts senator.

The Republican Party has been equally careful to avoid giving the impression that it wants to gain political capital out of the story. Neither the party nor the Bush-Cheney campaign has made any official statement. Republican national committee chairman Ed Gillespie refused to comment on the story.

Mr Kerry’s march towards the nomination has continued. On Saturday he won 63 per cent of the vote in the Nevada caucuses and 47 per cent in Washington DC. Although turnout in both caucuses was low, the results showed once more that Mr Kerry is now the out and out favourite to win the nomination.

He has lost just two of the 16 contests held so far and his predicted victory in Wisconsin tomorrow would be fatal to his rivals’ already slim hopes of defeating him.

By "Super Tuesday" on 2 March when ten states, including New York and California, hold their primaries, the field of contenders may have narrowed.

Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean has been concentrating on Wisconsin, which he initially said was a win-or-bust state for his floundering campaign. Yet the signs do not look good.

As recently as three months ago, Mr Dean was drawing thousands of people at his campaign rallies but an event on Saturday in Racine, Wisconsin, was poorly attended. Dozens of empty seats greeted Mr Dean as he arrived at the town’s civic centre - silent but eloquent testimony on the collapse in his support.

Earlier on Saturday, Milwaukee’s mayor, Marvin Pratt, was asked if he supported Mr Dean as he introduced him to a crowd of 100 potential supporters. Mr Pratt would say only: "Howard Dean is a friend of mine."

[AgThorn]

It's on, it's off ... I'm getting dizzy

[flashbunny]

I was going to vote for dean in the primary, but if tuesday can seal it up for kerry, I'm going to vote for him. He's too easy a target to pass up for the democratic nomination.

[The Wizard]

this was written before Drudge and the Sun hit

[AgThorn]

What's wierd is that it has tomorrows date on it. I just figured it's a timezone thing.

[lasereye]

It's off.

[Let's Roll]

I feel like the sex scandal is just a distraction from the real outrage and that's the lies he told to Congress about his "Band of Brothers".

[AgThorn]

the scandal is now off? From the headline, it seems so, but from the content of the article it seems like it's still on ...

[Tax Government]

People on FR have speculated that Hellary has a master plan to get nominated, and that by discrediting the front-runner at the last minute, she could step in and pick up their delegates. The timing of the Kerry "intern" story is just too good to be mere coincidence. Whatdayathink?

[Boundless]

> ... if tuesday can seal it up for kerry,
> I'm going to vote for him.

If Kerry can beat Bush, ANY Democrat can beat Bush.

And if any Democrat can beat Bush,
or Hillary merely thinks so,
then Kerry won't be the nominee.

The Clintons will see to it that Kerry
is out of the picture, unless they see
him as the designated loser.

And if he's the D.L., they'll help him lose.
In any scenario, he has a lot to worry
about on the Clinton front.

[BJungNan]

Give it time. Reporters are digging.

[AgThorn]

It's funny to see this all unravel little by little though ... staying tuned.

[Viking2002]

This isn't going to derail Kerry, nor will his 'Hanoi Jane' moments. This country is divided right down the middle, with us one one side, the and the Democratic 'me, me, me' constituency on the other, and they'll vote for whichever candidate has the best chance of plopping a big, fat, guilt-free, Nanny State teat in their faces come November. It'll be left to a handful of smarmy 'independents' to drag the election back into court again.

[Reelect President Dubya]

It doesn't matter how many primaries Kerry wins if, by the time of the Demcrat Convention, he has imploded.

At that point, Hillary will be drafted as the Democrat savior.

[ClearCase_guy]

Kerry is far left. He's unbelievably weak on national defense. He will raise taxes. He's got an intern scandal and has told other lies (botox, etc.)

Elections are decided by swing voters. Swing voters will NOT vote for the man described in my first paragraph. Voters who go that way are not Swing voters: they are Democrat base voters.

Kerry gets the base, but no one else.

[finnman69]

It's February....9 months is a looooooong time.

[Deo volente]

According to the Los Angeles Times, there is no scandal. I can't find anything about it as I pore over Sunday's edition. Not one mention of it, anywhere.

But on Page 1, a big story titled "What Did Bush Do In The Guard?"

The liberal news blackout is definitely on. There had better be a lot more women, or Kerry sails through to the nomination.

[He Rides A White Horse]

The Poliers’ house in Malvern, Pennsylvania was besieged by a camp of 20 reporters and cameramen at the weekend but the family refused to elaborate on previous statements quoted by the Sun in which Ms Polier’s father, Terrance, said: "He’s not the sort of guy I would choose to be with my daughter. I think he’s a sleaze-ball. I did kind of wonder if my daughter didn’t get that kind of feeling herself."

Malvern isn't too far from here; I'm wondering if Mr. Polier wouldn't be willing to talk to somebody who doesn't want to Lewinskize his daughter.

I'm getting the feeling that he doesn't want her reputation trashed; he definitely seems to have some things he wants to say, but appears cautious for good reason.

Freeper scoop?....Reporting with respect?

[Boundless]

> Give it time. Reporters are digging.

There's also the Mrs. to consider.

If she knows about the rumored affair(s),
and is convinced they happened, she's
likely to explode.

The promise of being 1st Lady probably
won't keep her in check, because she
know's it's a false promise -

If a Dem can win in 2004, Hillary will
hijack the nomination.

So either JFK is going to lose, or the
Clintons are going to neutralize him.

Teresa may elect to neuter him first.

[AgThorn]

I live in LA and I NEVER read the Times!! I know exactly what you are referring to!!

[AgThorn]

I live in LA and I NEVER read the Times!! I know exactly what you are referring to!!