John Kerry was home in Boston Friday for what was billed as a day off. But a routine trip out on a snowy afternoon by the presumed Democratic nominee quickly turned into a big-time production.
The Massachusetts senator and his daughter Vanessa, 27, were escorted from their red brick townhouse in Beacon Hill to a nearby Borders bookstore by a seven-car motorcade -- two police cars, three SUVs loaded with Secret Service agents and two minivans stuffed with reporters.
"So much for a mundane day with Dad," said the candidate's daughter.
As he edges closer to becoming the party's official nominee, Kerry's privacy has rapidly receded. The national media are now treating the Massachusetts senator with nearly the same scrutiny that they apply to the president.
Next week, members of his press corps are planning to accompany him on a five-day vacation with his wife to an undetermined locale.
On Friday, a gaggle of reporters tailed the senator on his round of errands, just in case he made news. They were on hand as Kerry perused the history section at Borders, picked up his bicycle from a repair shop and even when he bought a jock strap, among other items, at a local sporting goods shop.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/content/auto/epaper/editions/today/news_04250982b14f108e00e6.html
It's not clear from that article if Kerry's daughter was along just for the trip to Borders, or if she went to pick up the bike and buy the jock strap, too. I wish I could find out for sure, because it's pretty hilarious if she was there.