JOHN WHO?:

Some Dems to run away from Kerry (Hans Nichols, 3/17/04, The Hill)

A handful of House Democrats who look vulnerable in November’s election, plan to run away from their party’s presumptive presidential nominee, Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), and will not endorse him.

The holdouts are a minority of the 17 “frontliners” selected by the party leadership for member-to-member cash infusions, but their attitude reflects varying levels of comfort with how the New England senator will play in their districts.

A majority of frontliners, including those who are from conservative districts carried by President Bush in 2000, and have slim majorities, plan to campaign with and for Kerry.

But, regardless of their formal position on Kerry, most vow to run “independent campaigns.”

Several lawmakers, including Reps. Rodney Alexander (D-La.), Allen Boyd (D-Fla.), Jim Marshall (D-Ga.), Jim Matheson (D-Utah) and Dennis Moore (D-Kan.) have told The Hill they do not currently plan to endorse Kerry.

Alexander, who late last week denied he was considering switching parties, wrote to union supporters, stating: “I’d like to clarify. I will not be endorsing any candidate, including President Bush.”

Moore said he is leaning against endorsing Kerry, although he does not expect the presidential circus to run through Kansas, which Bush won overwhelmingly.

“I don’t suspect that I am going to run my campaign in accordance with the Democratic nominee,” Moore said. “I am going to run my campaign without regard to what the nominee does. They don’t have long coattails in Kansas.”

Boyd’s Florida district, which Bush carried with 53 percent, is expected to see some of the heaviest presidential traffic in the country. But the fourth-term lawmaker told The Hill that he remains undecided about endorsing Kerry. “At some point, we’ll meet individually,” said Boyd.

“You would want to get an assurance personally on how he’s going to run,” he added.

Through spokesmen, Marshall and Matheson said they have no plans to endorse Kerry. Both Georgia and Utah are expected to vote heavily for Bush.

Keeping in mind that this is John Kerry's high-water mark, it still seems possible that at least one of the Senate Democrats will endorse President Bush, maybe even one of those being mentioned as a possible vice presidential running mate (their being mentioned indicating just how far to the Right they are within the Party).

Posted by Orrin Judd at March 16, 2004 11:27 PM