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Frank advises Al Gore to stay out of Kerry's way
Boston Herald ^ | Andrew Miga

Posted on 12/05/2002 1:50:30 PM PST by BuddhaBoy

WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, voicing strong support for U.S. Sen. John Kerry's presidential ambitions, yesterday urged former Vice President Al Gore to stay out of the 2004 White House race

"Gore would lose," Frank said. "I don't think he should run ... His negatives are too high."

As Kerry officially created his presidential exploratory committee, Frank, D-Newton, said Gore lacks the political popularity to topple President Bush - who is riding a wave of favorability as he pursues the war on terrorism.

Frank stressed he wasn't blaming Gore, but simply recognizing a political reality Democrats must confront.

"Gore was the leading opponent of Bush - and then 9/11 happened," Frank said, recalling the terror attacks on New York and the Pentagon. "That made Bush a popular president. Al's been wounded. It's unfair and it's not his fault, but it's reality."

Gore, who lost to Bush in the controversial 2000 presidential contest, has thrust himself into the public spotlight recently with a series of high-profile media appearances as he mulls a rematch.

The former vice president has said he will decide by early next year whether he will run again. Most analysts believe he would become the instant Democratic front-runner.

Kerry, meanwhile, formally launched his presidential exploratory committee yesterday, filing a statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission. Kerry will transfer all of the $3.1 million in his Senate account to his new committtee, John Kerry for President Inc.

Frank, while cautioning that it is far too early to declare any favorites in the 2004 contest, cast Kerry as the "strongest" Democrat for 2004.

Asked if he would actively support Kerry's candidacy, Frank replied: "I'm inclined to do that right now. At this point, he's the one with the best chance of winning."

Kerry's background as a Vietnam War combat hero and as a prosecutor would make it hard for right-wing Republicans to brand the junior senator as too "soft" for the White House.

"This is a guy who combines combat experience and heroism with a record as a tough prosecutor," said Frank. "As you begin to play that out, Republicans can't go after him as weak on national security issues ... It will just fall flat against Kerry.

"As Kerry has said, he's killed people and he's put people in prison. So it's tough for Republicans to say he's too soft somehow to be president. He is a very strong candidate."

Frank also noted that a recent profile in The New Yorker about Kerry, by "Primary Colors" author Joe Klein, gave the senator's candidacy a lift among political insiders and the media who track the campaign at this early juncture.


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: fwank; gore; idiots; losers
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Ooooh, he's killed people, so he should be Pres. Oh man, it is going to be a fun two years.
1 posted on 12/05/2002 1:50:30 PM PST by BuddhaBoy
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To: BuddhaBoy
You know it... by the way, pass the ketchup!
2 posted on 12/05/2002 1:54:26 PM PST by RightResponse
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To: BuddhaBoy
Wow! Getting b*tchslapped by a poof. That's gotta be humiliating.
3 posted on 12/05/2002 1:55:51 PM PST by Paul Atreides
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To: BuddhaBoy
It speaks volumes about the Democratic Party that Barney Frank is the "mouth"piece for their party...this guy is the biggest deviant going..
4 posted on 12/05/2002 1:56:35 PM PST by Fedupwithit
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To: BuddhaBoy
How about a Kerry / Frank ticket?
5 posted on 12/05/2002 1:56:39 PM PST by plain talk
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To: Paul Atreides
In spite of all the advice, Gore was always wearing the wrong colors for Barney!
6 posted on 12/05/2002 1:57:42 PM PST by RightResponse
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To: Paul Atreides
Wow! Getting b*tchslapped by a poof. That's gotta be humiliating.

LOL!

I'll bet Tipper is trying to coax Al from under the bed at this very moment.

7 posted on 12/05/2002 1:58:21 PM PST by BuddhaBoy
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To: BuddhaBoy
Watch out for Kerry.
8 posted on 12/05/2002 1:59:31 PM PST by what's up
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To: BuddhaBoy
Does anyone know about his actions in Vietnam? I know these articles like to toss around the phrase 'combat hero' when covering one of their boys, but what did he really do? All I've heard about his record is that he gave back his medals saying he was ashamed of them but wouldn't admit to it in interviews. I'm curious to know what he did in 'nam if anyone knows.
9 posted on 12/05/2002 2:00:04 PM PST by glocker23
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To: what's up
LOL! Will anyone be able to tell the difference? One is just as boring and meandering as the other.
10 posted on 12/05/2002 2:01:11 PM PST by Paul Atreides
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To: Paul Atreides
Seems to me that JFK has no sense of humor.. what a dour look on his face all the time.
11 posted on 12/05/2002 2:02:35 PM PST by RightResponse
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To: BuddhaBoy
"Gore would lose," Frank said. "I don't think he should run ... His negatives are too high."

Gad, you gotta admire such political savvy and brilliance. No one else could have figured this out.

BTW, what are Kerry's popularity figures? Or should I say....name recognition figures?

12 posted on 12/05/2002 2:03:14 PM PST by anniegetyourgun
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To: BuddhaBoy
"Gore would lose," Frank said."

LOL. Kerry would/will lose too. What's the point? Horseface *might* be able to carry his own state, if he's lucky.

13 posted on 12/05/2002 2:03:14 PM PST by tuna_battle
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To: BuddhaBoy
Both Massachusetts Senators JOHN KERRY and TED KENNEDY voted "NO"
for the flag-protection amendment SJR 14 !!!

14 posted on 12/05/2002 2:03:17 PM PST by WhatNot
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To: BuddhaBoy
Kerry has better hair than Gore. Franks knows this.
15 posted on 12/05/2002 2:03:58 PM PST by malakhi
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To: tuna_battle
Horseface.. that's it!
16 posted on 12/05/2002 2:04:31 PM PST by RightResponse
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To: RightResponse
What is funny is his office claiming that his haircut cost only $75 (only!). From what I have seen, the end product doesn't reflect well on the stylist.
17 posted on 12/05/2002 2:04:49 PM PST by Paul Atreides
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To: Paul Atreides
$25 for the cut, and then $50 for stroking the ego!!
18 posted on 12/05/2002 2:06:08 PM PST by RightResponse
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To: BuddhaBoy

19 posted on 12/05/2002 2:06:55 PM PST by paul in cape
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To: plain talk
"How about a Kerry / Frank ticket? "

LOL!!!!
20 posted on 12/05/2002 2:09:08 PM PST by bluewater bird
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