Kerry aide blamed for campaign stumbles heads back to Ted K

Boston Herald ^ | December 7, 2004 | Gayle Fee and Laura Raposa

[Embraer2004]

Stephanie Cutter, the controversial John Kerry for President mouth who was eviscerated by Newsweek and who was blamed for some of the campaign's worst blunders, reportedly is negotiating a return to Ted Kennedy's Senate staff. Sources say Cutter's second stint in Kennedy's communications office is a done deal, a development that has seasoned politicos shaking their heads.

``It's a mystery,'' said one Senate snitch. ``It's very puzzling. People don't know how to digest it.''

But the senior senator is apparently a big fan of the thirtysomething blonde.

``Stephanie is one of the best in the business and would be a strong asset to any organization,'' said Kennedy's spokesman, David Smith.

But Cutter isn't exactly Miss Popularity when it comes to the national press.

Consider the description of Kerry's communications director in Evan Thomas' Newsweek piece:

``In a crowded press room, Cutter was easy to spot with her dirty-blond hair, short skirts and high boots, as she lectured some sheepish or irked newsperson,'' he writes.

``Cutter had been the object of endless complaining by reporters and campaign staffers. She was considered too slow and too controlling, not nimble or clever.''

Cutter, a protegee of Kerry campaign manager Mary Beth Cahill, also took the fall for a devastating Kerry flip-flop on Iraq and was blamed for the campaign's slow response to the Swift Boat Veterans.

Although pundits like James Carville sliced up Cutter, others say she was unfairly singled out.

Jim Manley, a steady hand in the Kennedy press office for years, recently announced he is leaving to head up the new Senate Democratic Communications Center - although Cutter is believed to be seeking a more impressive title than the one Manley is vacating.

Do stay tuned.

[rawhide]

[Bonaparte]

Nice try, Teddy. Better luck next time. Oops, I guess there won't be a next time!