On Thursday at a rally at the College of Charleston, Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts has given US Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama his endorsement. Kerry argued that Barack Obama would be the best candidate to unite the country.
John Kerry was the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee who had lost to George W. Bush. In the previous year, John Kerry had given up his plans for a 2008 presidential run. Back in 2004, former Senator John Edwards was John Kerry’s running mate.
The decision to endorse Obama was timed by Kerry before the January 26 primary in South Carolina. This state has taken on extra importance for Barack Obama after Senator Hillary Clinton had defeated him in New Hampshire.
While Kerry had lost South Carolina to John Edwards during the 2004 Democratic primary, John Edwards is in third place in 2008 behind both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
While Kerry’s endorsement could help Obama, it could be a slap at the face of Edwards.
In response, Edwards said: “Our country and our party are stronger because of John’s service, and I respect his decision. When we were running against each other on the same ticket, John and I agreed on many issues.”
This could also mean a blow to Hillary Clinton as well. He had withheld his endorsement after Hillary won New Hampshire. He wanted to have an impact on the race along with avoiding the fate of Al Gore, the 2000 Democratic nominee. Al Gore had endorsed Howard Dean in 2004 before his campaign imploded.
Currently, Al Gore has made no endorsement this year.
While Kerry planned to run in 2008, it was foiled due to the remark which came out wrong. In a speech in 2006, Kerry said that those who don’t go to school get stuck in Iraq. Kerry’s aides have said he meant to take a shot at Bush saying he got people stuck in Iraq.
Hillary Clinton also piled onto the criticism that was piled up against John Kerry.
While canceling his plans for a 2008 run, Kerry continued to get Democrats to take a more powerful anti-war stance such as deadlines for troop withdrawals. He has also backed environment causes in which he and his wife are currently writing a book about.
Kerry could provide necessary organizational power to Obama. Since losing in 2004, Kerry still retained a national network of supporters.
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