Kerry Mortgages Boston Home for Campaign

AP ^ | December 24, 2003 | AP

[Brilliant]

WASHINGTON - Sen. John Kerry has lent his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination more than $6 million secured through a mortgage on his family's Boston home, his campaign said Thursday.

Kerry, a Massachusetts senator, already had lent his campaign $850,000 to become the first candidate in the 2004 race to turn to his own fortune. The Kerry campaign has declined to disclose the value of the Beacon Hill house or the extent of the senator's wealth, except to say that he had several millions of dollars at his disposal.

Under federal campaign law, Kerry cannot take the money from his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, an heir to the multimillion-dollar Heinz food fortune. She can give no more than $2,000, the limit applied to campaign donors. He is allowed to tap the full value of any property solely in his name and half the value of property he co-owns.

Kerry and rival Howard Dean are the only Democrats who have declined to take federal funds for their campaigns. President Bush also has decided to forego federal funding.

Kerry campaign spokesman Michael Meehan said Thursday the mortgage-based loan shows Kerry's personal commitment to the race for the nomination.

Past presidential candidates who spent millions of their own money on their campaigns include Republican Steve Forbes and Reform Party candidate Ross Perot.

[Brilliant]

This is conclusive proof that Kerry does not know how to handle money.

[isthisnickcool]

Paul Wellstone will get elected president before Kerry ever does.

[rellimpank]

---and that his wife is smarter with hers then he with his--

[Cicero]

How many hoops will he have to jump through before Teresa pays off the mortgage?

[Brilliant]

That's a lot of carrying out the trash.

[chainsaw]

And his wife will pay off the mortgage, when it comes due, with ketchup notes, and write the interest off as a tax deduction.

[SamAdams76]

Why is it that when the wife has the money, the husband can't touch it but when the husband has the money, it's considered just as much the wife's money as his own?

[xrp]

Women's Liberation.

[billorites]

Gee, you sound a little bitter Sam.

[Texas Eagle]

Under federal campaign law, Kerry cannot take the money from his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, an heir to the multimillion-dollar Heinz food fortune.

What the? Since when do RATS obey campaign finance laws? This guy doesn't stand a chance.

[Paul Atreides]

I remember when J.R. Ewing mortgaged Southfork, in order to finance an underhanded business deal.

If John F'n Kerry wants it this bad, he doesn't need to be in there.

[nuconvert]

Teresa Heinz Kerry..."stay away from my pickle money."

[nuconvert]

Was he married to Sue Ellen then?

[Paul Atreides]

Yep. That was before their first divorce.

[clintonh8r]

He probably called Ditech.com.....

[Paul Atreides]

Teresa Heinz Kerry..."stay away from my pickle money..."

"...and, keep your pickle away from me!"

[nuconvert]

LOL!!

[Paul Atreides]

Funny, I thought Dimocrats were supposed to be the poor party of the comman man. Isn't it only Republicans who are supposed to be this wealthy?

[Paul Atreides]

I wonder if he'll hock those Vietnam medals. You did know that he was in Vietnam, didn't you?

[goldstategop]

Jean F. Cheri made history by posting America's first ever French Morgage to finance a shtinking (and sinking) presidential campaign!!!