Posted on 02/06/2004 2:51:19 PM PST by kattracks
WASHINGTON (AP) — Presidential Democratic hopeful John Kerry is letting former Sen. Robert Torricelli raise money for him less than two years after the Senate formally rebuked Torricelli for his actions with a political donor.Torricelli, whose rising political career collapsed in 2002 after his fund raising became the subject of criminal and Senate investigations, said Friday he is not seeking a formal position in Kerry's campaign but has raised money for it.
"I have asked people to send in checks," Torricelli said in a phone interview. "I have raised some money for John. I have known him for many years and probably have contributed to most members of the Democratic caucus."
"I don't have role in the campaign nor am I seeking one," Torricelli said, saying he attended a meeting of fund-raisers with Kerry Thursday night in New York. "I am happily retired from political campaigns. But I certainly support his candidacy."
"John did a briefing last night with 150 people, made a brief appearance and thanked me for the help," he said. Torricelli said he did not know how much money in all he raised for Kerry because checks were still flowing in.
Kerry's campaign spokeswoman, Stephanie Cutter, said Friday the presidential Democratic hopeful was appreciative of Torricelli's help.
"John Kerry and Bob Torricelli served together in the Senate for many years," Cutter said. "Many of Kerry's current and former Senate colleagues are supporting his bid for the presidency with the united goal of defeating George Bush."
Cutter declined to address whether Torricelli's role conflicted with Kerry's message on the campaign trail that he has fought the taint of special interest money throughout his political career.
But Rep. Bill Pascrell, D-N.J., who is co-chairing Kerry's campaign effort in New Jersey, sought to put some distance between Torricelli and the campaign.
"What Bob Torricelli does is his business, but he has nothing to do officially with this campaign," Pascrell said.
Torricelli, once one of the Democrats' top fund-raisers for Senate candidates and a close ally of former President Clinton, dismissed any suggestion that his past problems with fund-raising will be used by rivals to attack Kerry.
"If that is the best criticism a man can come up with against John Kerry, then he is in remarkably good shape," Torricelli said.
Though Torricelli was investigated by a federal grand jury for his fund-raising ties, favors and gifts involving donor David Chang, he was never charged with any wrongdoing.
However, the Senate Ethics Committee in July 2002 sent a letter that "severely admonished" Torricelli for accepting improper gifts from Chang. Torricelli aired a television commercial apologizing for any missteps and denying he had knowingly broken any rules. But the public was mostly unforgiving, his political approval plummeted and he dropped his re-election bid.
Getting the family to chip in huh?
Trajan88
P.S. You should be a plot-line on the "Sopranos."
HE'S GOT 'GEP': Dem contender John Kerry embraces Rep. Richard Gephardt after getting the former candidate's endorsement yesterday.
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