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Candidate Bio
John Kerry
Political affiliation:
Democratic Party
Born:
December 11, 1943
Denver, Colorado
Personal:
Married to Teresa Heinz; two daughters --Alexandra and Vanessa. Three stepchildren. Catholic.
Occupation:
U.S. Senator
Education:
Bachelor's degree, Yale University, 1966; law degree, Boston College, 1976.
Experience:
Navy officer, awarded Silver Star, Bronze Star with Combat "V," three Purple Hearts for Vietnam War service, 1966-70; spokesman, Vietnam Veterans Against the War, 1971; Middlesex County, Mass., prosecutor, 1976-78; lawyer in private practice, 1979-1982; Massachusetts Lieutenant governor, 1983-85; U.S. Senate, 1985-present.
On the Issues
Debates
Audio Final presidential debate (10/13/04)
George W. Bush and John Kerry debated in Tempe, Arizona.
Audio Second presidential debate (10/8/04)
George W. Bush and John Kerry held their second debate in St. Louis, Mo.
Audio Vice presidential debate, Cleveland, Ohio (10/5/04)
John Edwards and Dick Cheney meet in their only debate.
Audio First presidential debate, Miami, Florida (9/30/04)
George W. Bush and John Kerry's first of three debates.
Audio Johnston, Iowa (1/4/04)
Seven Democratic candidates debated, two weeks before the Iowa caucuses.
Audio New Hampshire (12/9/03)
Eight of the Democratic candidates ganged up on front-runner Howard Dean
Audio NY Debate (9/25/03)
Ten Democratic candidates for president debate in New York, sponsored by MSNBC.
Audio Highlights
Links and Resources
Web site:
Document johnkerry.com
Minnesota Web site:
Document johnkerrymn.com
Campaign Blog:
Document blog.johnkerry.com
Campaign contributors:
Document Political Money Line
Document Federal Election Commission
Candidate Pages

John Kerry

SNAPSHOT
U.S. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., won the Democratic nomination for president in July, the only Democrat left standing in a field that at one time numbered 10. In winning the nomination, Kerry survived several shake-ups of his campaign after former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean spent most of 2003 as the frontrunner. But the Iowa caucuses, and an ill-timed scream, doomed Dean, and forced out Sen. Richard Gephardt. And Kerry rolled on Super Tuesday, forcing his primary competitor, Sen. John Edwards, out of the race. In June, Kerry named Edwards his choice for vice president.

Kerry did not get a large bounce after the Democratic National Convention in Boston, and then in late August, the Republican Convention in New York, coupled with a strong ad campaign by Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, heavily damaged Kerry, who never recovered from a sharp drop in the polls, even though the final election result was close.

Howard Dean's last stand?
Supporters packed a Superior, Wisc., school auditorium to hear former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean's pitch to the Badger state's most northern Democrats. Dean is focused almost exclusively on next week's Wisconsin primary. He hopes to pull off an upset win that might revitalize his struggling campaign. But Dean lost key endorsements, including from a veteran northern Wisconsin congressman.
The race for president
A look at the key issues and leading candidates in the presidential campaign. Presidential contests in Virginia and Tennessee are on Tuesday, and Democratic hopefuls are campaigning hard. Trying to steal some of the spotlight from Democrats seeking his job, President Bush is highlighting upswings in the U.S. economy.
Who is John Kerry?
John Kerry's victories in five more states makes him the clear front-runner for the Democratic nomination for president. Who is John Kerry? Where has he been? What has he done? What does he stand for?
Lieberman abandons race for Democratic presidential nomination
As strains of Frank Sinatra's "My Way" played, Sen. Joe Lieberman ended a presidential bid that he ran on his own terms but that never found a foothold with the voters.
First look at what the South and West thinks of Democrats
Presidential candidate John Edwards expects a bump from his primary victory in South Carolina, where the economy appears to be voters' chief concern. John Kerry won big in western states. A look at the fortunes of all the Democratic candidates after the latest primaries and caucuses.
Kerry wins in five states
Armed with a multistate win that cemented his front-runner status, John Kerry is pausing briefly before plunging into the next round of tests as a national presidential candidate. His campaign, Kerry said, is "on the move."
Kerry campaigns in North Dakota
Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry campaigned in Fargo on Sunday, two days before the state's caucus. The Massachusetts senator said he was going to watch the Superbowl in Fargo and defeat President George W. Bush in November.
MPR Poll: November presidential contest might be close in Minnesota
Minnesota voters say if the presidential election were held today, Democratic Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts would have the best chance to beat George W. Bush in the state. A new Mason-Dixon poll sponsored by Minnesota Public Radio and the St. Paul Pioneer Press sheds light on voter opinions on President Bush, the Democratic candidates for president, and the war on terrorism.
Democratic presidential contenders meet in debate
Democratic presidential contenders agreed in campaign debate Thursday night that they can and must compete successfully against President Bush this fall in the South, a region that has been hard to crack for many of the party's past contenders for the White House.
Kerry rolls over N.H. rivals, taking mantle of front-runner as contest goes national
The opening acts behind them, Democrats transformed their presidential campaign into a national battle Wednesday with John Kerry, fresh from his New Hampshire win, ready to open an advertising blitz in all seven states that vote next and his rivals scrambling to stay competitive.
The next primaries, just around the corner
With the New Hampshire primary over, Gary and his guests take a look ahead to the next series of primaries on Tuesday, Feb. 3.
Spouses on the campaign trail
As the campaign progresses, Democratic candidates' wives are receiving more attention from the media. As in years past, one observer says, first ladies and the women who hope to succeed them are expected to drop careers to be hostesses.
New Hampshire primary
A preview of Tuesday's New Hampshire presidential primary. The candidates are making the most of Monday, in the final day before the primary. Among the Democrats, John Kerry and Howard Dean are leading the pack in some polls. But polls also show eight to 15 percent of likely voters are undecided -- and many others could change their minds.
The benefits of negative ads
Vanderbilt University professor John Geer has analyzed presidential campaign ads for many years--he says they are not only effective, but improve the quality of information available to voters. His new book is Attacking Democracy: A Defense of Negativity in Presidential Campaigns, 1960-2000. Geer is in town to speak at the University of Minnesota's Hubert H. Humphrey Institute.
State of the Union
An analysis of President Bush's State of the Union address.

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