<p>WASHINGTON — Once written off as a Democratic presidential contender, John Kerry survived to become the front-runner thanks to a $6.4 million Christmas Eve loan he made to his campaign.</p>
<p>"There are a limited number of ways he can pay off that loan, and it's a fair question to ask what he intends to do," says Larry Noble, director of the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics, which studies money in politics.</p>