Posted on 01/26/2007 1:50:25 PM PST by Risha
Kerry: My ‘gut told me’ not to seek presidency
By Dave Wedge
Boston Herald Chief Enterprise Reporter
Friday, January 26, 2007 - Updated: 02:11 AM EST
Sen. John F. Kerry was facing “enormous pressure” to make another run for the White House and had the backing of most of his inner circle - including his wife - but decided against another tough campaign based on his “gut,” the senator told the Herald.
In an interview yesterday, Kerry said his wife, Teresa Heinz, was supportive of his decision but would have stuck by him through another grueling campaign in 2008. “She wanted me to do whatever I wanted to do. She was unbelievably supportive,” Kerry said.
He said he consulted with Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), who also was supportive of his decision either way, as well as top advisers in California, New Jersey and Washington, but ultimately went with his instincts.
“Nine-tenths of them wanted me to run. I had an enormous amount of pressure to run,” the senator said. “But I had to go with what was in my gut. My gut told me this was not the right time. Period.”
Asked if he may have stayed in the race had New York Sen. Hillary Clinton not announced her run for the Democratic nomination in 2008, Kerry responded: “The candidates in the race were not the decider in this.”
“I came within 59,000 votes of winning the presidency of the United States (in 2004),” he said. “I think the bottom line is I would have been a very competitive candidate.”
Kerry, who in making his announcement called for President Bush to set a timeline to pull troops out of Iraq, said he plans to turn his focus on addressing chaos in the Middle East and global warming, as well as domestic issues such as education and health-care funding and affordable housing.
“I intend to fight for the priorities of Massachusetts,” he said. “Massachusetts is what I represent.”
As for the crowded field of Democratic contenders, Kerry said he’s not yet decided who to support but eventually will back a candidate. “I will get involved at the appropriate time,” he said. “I care very much about who carries the standard in the party.”
So many funny lines in this one!!!
No guts.
No, Jon Carry, your 'gut' didn't tell you anything.
It couldn't.
You have no guts.
His gut talks because he doesn't have a pair.
Oh my gosh...too many jokes...brain overload...
bttt
his "butt" told him not to do it.
Kerry, your money mama said no
When is his Senate seat up for re-election?
Tell me about it!!
His gut is named Hillary.
I just can't believe his nickname for Tereza is "guts."
08
LOL! No guts, No glory. John F'n Kerry you are a joke.
It's not over yet. When Tay-re-sah sobers up she might decide he's running after all.
That's the first smart thing I've seen him do in a long, long time.
I think his wife is one of the reasons he lost the first time. She was no lady!
It was my gut and the deafening silence on that listening tour.
Ya shouldn't have eaten all of Tereza's gin-soaked raisins, Lurch.
Seriously????
ROFL!!!!!!!!!!
Effing gutless gasbag!
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