Heinz Kerry Mystery Son Backed NaderPublicity-shy prospective first son H. John Heinz IV backed Ralph Nader in the 2000 election with a $1,000 contribution - and won't say whether he'll support his stepfather, John Kerry, in this year's race.
The 37-year-old Heinz IV is a committed Zen Buddhist who works as a blacksmith in Bucks County, Pa. He told reporters in 1995 that he was a registered Independent.
Publicly available voting records list the eldest son of Teresa and the late Sen. John Heinz III as "non-partisan."
But because the secretive Heinz IV won't speak to the press now, Kerry campaign flacks are desperately trying to fill in the blanks in a way that won't embarrass his stepfather.
Complicating matters is a 2002 quote from Teresa saying that she believed her eldest son started "hating her" around the time his first daughter was born in 2000.
Asked if Heinz IV would be backing his mother's husband, Heinz Kerry spokeswoman Marla Romash told Newsday, "I'm sure" he will.
What about the $1,000 he gave to Nader in 2000?
"Listen, John is entitled to his privacy. ... "
How can Romash be sure that Heinz IV supports Kerry?
"It's a ridiculous question," she told the paper.
As for Teresa's "my son hates me" revelation, Romash declined to comment, saying only that the Heinzes are "a close and loving family."
Now there's a twist to the poisoned chalice theory I hadn't thought of...Mrs Heinz-Kerry sees the light, quits the campaign trail, reconciles with her eldest son and votes for Nader...