Posted on 07/14/2004 3:43:02 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
BOSTON - Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry (news - web sites) is returning to his summer home on Nantucket for four days before he accepts his party's nomination at the convention.
The Massachusetts senator will spend Saturday through Tuesday at the beachfront home owned by his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, who is planning to join him for the weekend. Kerry aides said he'll be working on his speech and other preparations for the convention, which begins July 26.
Kerry is making his second trip to Nantucket this summer. He also spent Father's Day weekend on the island with his wife and two daughters.
Even though he's locked in a tight race with President Bush (news - web sites), Kerry tries to take time off so he can stay fresh for the campaign's long hauls. Kerry is planning a trip through battleground states in the days before the convention and another marathon coast-to-coast swing after it ends.
The last Democratic president, Bill Clinton (news - web sites), was a workaholic who rarely took vacations. He didn't own a home and spent most of his weekends at the White House or Camp David, although he would sometimes stay with friends on Martha's Vineyard.
President Bush spent most weekends home in Texas during his race in 2000 and has taken more than 30 trips to his ranch in Crawford since his inauguration.
Al Gore (news - web sites) took a break on the North Carolina beach two weeks before he was nominated as the Democratic candidate four years ago. Donna Brazile, who was Gore's campaign manager, said it was crucial for him to take some time to focus on his acceptance speech. For Kerry, the speech probably will be the most important he's made yet in his political career.
"It's important to get off the roller coaster for 24 to 48 hours and catch their breath," Brazile said.
Kerry has taken more than 25 days off this year at family vacation homes in Nantucket and Idaho's ski country and his other homes that he and his wife own in Boston, Washington and outside Pittsburgh. Kerry also tries to take occasional breaks to enjoy a dinner out or a bike ride, as he did Wednesday after two days of working on his speech in his Boston home.
Now that he's picked North Carolina Sen. John Edwards (news - web sites) as his running mate, Kerry can afford to take more time off the campaign trail. While Kerry is at his island getaway, Edwards will be asking for dollars and votes in California, Florida and North Carolina. Kerry plans to speak with Edwards daily, aides said.
"I'm glad John Kerry is taking his work with him for a long weekend with his family, because heading into the Democratic convention this campaign marathon is about to become a sprint through election day," Kerry spokesman David Wade said.
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On the Net:
Kerry campaign: http://www.johnkerry.com
There's something wrong with this guy.
Edwards is also joing him for the weekend too!
they need to make love in private just once!
Because all "for the little people" candidates have $8000 bikes and homes on Nantucket..
John Kerry Heads to ****TERESAS'S**** Nantucket Home .... John is just the gigilo.
Wow! He knows how to ride a ten-speed.
Check out those V-Twin water bottles!
Damn! this guy takes more "vacations" than i've ever seen!!
The Kerry camp should just tell us the truth: he's going into hiding because the more he's out front, the more his poll #'s seem to drop! LMAO
Bush is going to wipe the floor with this guy. Maybe they should file an election pre challenge right now like he promised a few months back in florida. Do you ever envision a day in america when the left tries to circumvent our voting rights by doing this? I do.
"Maybe they should file an election pre challenge right now like he promised a few months back in florida"
I meant the Kerry campaign, that is what he said a while back (they'll 'pre challenge' in florida). why not bring in the UN?? Yeah..that's the ticket.
Kerry has two objectives:
1) solidify his reputation as the laziest candidate since Adlai Stevenson, and
2) stay out of sight so the voters will like him more (and keep Teresa quiet for a few days)
Yea, and he and Ed-wads were the only 2 missed votes on the defense of marriage amendment today.
If Kerry/Edwards won't defend marriage, how can anyone expect them to defend our country?
Kerry has already put a legal team in place in Florida. Unless Bush wins handily, IMHO, Kerry will dispute the count.
Nedra Pickler wrote this to deflect criticism of Kerry taking so many vacations. Nedra should try reporting news, rather than trying to pass off PR fluff piece for Kerry as journalism.
The point is, Kerry seems to be on the campaign trail only a few days at a time. Then he has to take several days off. But during those days off, we see a flood of photo-ops designed to show off his supposed athletic prowess.
Something smells of fish and it isn't the Nantucket air.
John Kerry: Man of the People.
Notice..he leans LEFT...
There's something wrong with this article too.
Why are they so defensive about Kerry, citing the Bush time off, the algore time off, etc.
What about George Washington...actually he didn't have a lot of time off what with being general and all.
That couldnt look less presidential if he tried. There is a technical term for him, it's boob..
At least Kerry, ahhhh his wife, has a home on Nantucket. Remember Bill and Hillary had to smooch off their "friends" to stay on Nantucket or Marthas Vineyard. When the polls showed the public did not like where and with whom he was hanging out with the Clinton's changed vacation plans.
Guess she wanted a lot of head.
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