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Kerry edges closer to VP pick U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry prepared to announce his running mate Tuesday, ending a search that began with about 25 candidates and a mandate to find a political soul mate who could "be ready at any moment" to assume the presidency.
The last-minute speculation centered on Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, a former Kerry rival who met secretly with the Democratic nominee-in-waiting late last week. But Kerry advisers said their boss had recently signaled his interest in other candidates, including Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri, Gov. Tom Vilsack of Iowa and Sen. Bob Graham of Florida.
Advisers said a surprise was possible. Kerry plans to announce his choice for vice president on the Internet before a rally in Pittsburgh.
The newly minted ticket will travel to battleground states this week, starting with Ohio and ending with the running mate's hometown, aides said. The pair will be formally nominated at the Democratic National Convention, which begins in Boston on July 26.
Kerry considers the vice presidential announcement and the convention as opportunities to dominate the political news and introduce himself to voters. Bush's nominating convention begins Aug. 30.
Casting this as a signature decision of his campaign, aides said Kerry insisted from the start on a far-reaching and secretive process, driven by consideration for the candidates. In 2000, Al Gore's campaign publicly declared Kerry a finalist for the Democratic ticket, putting him under a microscope until he found out from the media that he didn't get the nod.
Kerry has pledged to personally notify several candidates of his decision before it is announced.
That same year, Bush tapped the head of his search committee, Dick Cheney, as his nominee after a perfunctory review of his record. Aides said Kerry was determined to thoroughly review his candidates.
He started his search by telling Jim Johnson, the head of his vice presidential team, and campaign manager Mary Beth Cahill that his running mate needed to fit five criteria:
_ A proven leader with sound judgment on national security, economic prosperity and social justice.
_ Committed to Kerry's issues and vision for the country.
_ Capable of inspiring confidence in voters from all parts of the country and all walks of life.
_ Compatible with Kerry "on every level."
_ "Ready at any moment to assume the awesome responsibility of president."
The criteria, referred to in the campaign as a mission statement, was obtained by The Associated Press.
Aides said that Johnson consulted with more than 300 people, not all of them Democrats. Kerry himself actively considered about 25 candidates, the officials said without releasing their names. Johnson oversaw the review of each candidate's background and records, providing Kerry reports to review. Kerry followed up on the reports with questions or requests for further information. Edwards, a polished populist from North Carolina, outlasted all but Kerry in the Democratic primary fight and is the favorite of many party regulars. Gephardt has been in the House for nearly 28 years, its majority leader from 1989 to 1995, and was the minority leader until he began his bid for president. He is a favorite of organized labor, a key Democratic constituency, and hails from a battleground state. Vilsack was the first Democrat in 30 years to be elected governor of Iowa, another key state. Graham is one of the most popular politicians in Florida, which determined the 2000 election. He has vast foreign policy experience in the Senate. Kerry has met privately with Edwards at least twice, and at least once with Gephardt and Graham. |
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