Simple minds, simple pleasures
Party Leaders Express Relief at the Emergence of Kerry
By ADAM NAGOURNEY
Published: January 29, 2004
MANCHESTER, N.H., Jan. 28 — Democratic leaders expressed relief Wednesday at the emergence of John Kerry as the leader of the party's presidential field, after his twin victories over Howard Dean. But they voiced concern about the potential electoral liabilities of Mr. Kerry, a candidate who remains unknown in much of the country.
In the interviews, party leaders described the Democratic nomination battle as hardly decided, even after Mr. Kerry decisively defeated Dr. Dean here and in Iowa. While many said Dr. Dean's hopes had been seriously diminished by the losses, they noted Mr. Kerry's own difficulties as a candidate this year, and said Senator John Edwards of North Carolina remained in a strong position to step in should Mr. Kerry falter again, particularly as the race moves south.
Still, the evident relief among some Democratic leaders was testimony to their concern about what had once seemed the near-inevitability that Dr. Dean would be the party's standard-bearer in November. That concern had markedly grown in recent days, after his third-place finish in Iowa and the raucous concession speech he delivered that night.
"To the extent to which there is an establishment, it wants what the Democratic primary voters want: the strongest candidate in the fall," said Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana. "I think the consensus is that John will be a more formidable candidate than Howard."
A Southern Democratic state chairman, who would not allow his name to be used, said, "There's been a big sigh of relief," while a national Democratic strategist said: "It has been a sea change. People were worried."
