Funny how campaigns enjoy an ebb and flow. John Kerry was a Dem frontrunner for the better part of the year, then Dean surged, and Kerry’s campaign was floundering. Now, all of a sudden, Kerry is making a bit of a comeback.
Last Tuesday, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the most popular politician in California, endorsed Kerry, saying he has “the strength, experience, leadership, and judgment to be an excellent President.”
Today, Kerry followed up the Feinstein endorsement with an announcement that former New Hampshire Gov. Jeanne Shaheen, the most popular Democrat in the state with the first primary, has joined Kerry’s campaign as its national chairwoman.
This is a huge pickup for Kerry and will definitely give him a boost. Every candidate has been bugging Shaheen for an endorsement all year, but she’s carefully sidestepped getting involved.
Today Shaheen said she felt compelled to announce her support for Kerry.
“Vacation’s over,” Shaheen said at a news conference with Kerry outside his campaign office here. “The stakes are too great in the next presidential election for me or anyone who cares about this country to stay on the sidelines.”
With Wesley Clark in the race and Dean enjoying a sizable lead in New Hampshire, the Shaheen endorsement couldn’t come at a more important time for Kerry. It probably won’t be enough to propel him back to the front of the pack, but considering the troubles the campaign has had the last few weeks, Kerry needed some good news.