Three former Kerry campaign aides, also demanding anonymity out of concerns about alienating their former boss, said they were surprised and disappointed to learn that he left so much money in the bank.
Kerry had roughly $45 million left in his primary campaign fund as of mid-October, according to his Federal Election Commission (news - web sites) report, and could use that as seed money for another presidential bid.
His final report is not due until next month, but officials close to Kerry said he has $15 million to $17 million in that account, with no outstanding debts, after giving the DNC about $23 million and state parties about $9 million since the mid-October report.
In addition, the report showed that Kerry had about $7 million on hand in a legal and accounting compliance fund that he could use for legal expenses in a 2008 campaign. Officials said he raised several million more for that account since the filing.
Last summer, Kerry donated $3 million each to the House and Senate campaign committees and $2 million to the Democratic Governors Association.
While Kerry has likely given more money to state committees than any other nominee, no other Democrat has raised as much as he did. And second-guessing Democrats said Wednesday they couldn't recall a candidate leaving so much money on the table after a campaign.
"He's going to have to give some of it up for 2005 and beyond," Brazile said. "The party will demand it."
This goes a long way toward answering one of the questions I have had about Kerry. I have been wondering if John was his name or his occupation.
Is your post from an article on Drudge yesterday. I thought I had seen one that said he had 45. Yours says at one time he did.
Anyway, it just reinforces the character of the man that he would keep the money.
But, then again I just saw a new thread where he says, he may/may not run in 2008. He still can't make a decision.
Enough said!!!!!!!!
maybe he needs to pay the mortgage back on the house he hocked