The American Spectator

Washington Prowler

p> REPORTING FOR DUTY br> Sen. John Kerry and his Massachusetts minions insist he has not decided on whether he will run for president again. But actions speak louder than words, and when one does things like set up leadership PACs, and take time away from holiday celebrations to hang out with campaign volunteers and state fundraisers, one's intentions ring loud and clear. /p>

Last weekend saw Kerry in New Hampshire thanking his statewide campaign staff and meeting with Democrat officials. This coming weekend finds the Man from Mope in Des Moines, Iowa, for yet another party with his supporters.

Kerry advisers and staffers say the events -- paid for out of Kerry's campaign coffers -- are nothing more than a candidate showing appreciation for the hard work Granite and Hawkeye Staters did for him.

"And besides, the Senator has to make a stop off on his way to Idaho, so stopping off in Iowa just made sense on so many levels," says a staffer. Sooo many levels, indeed.

Kerry is off to Idaho for some pre-Christmas skiing and snowboarding and holiday frolicking with his multi-zillionaire neighbors in Sun Valley.

"Actually, Senator Kerry didn't want to go to Des Moines to avoid the very thing you are trying to do," says a former campaign staffer. "This is not about 2008. It's about bringing closure in a proper fashion to 2004."

Kerry, however, isn't closing all doors. He has already made the decision not to bleed out completely his presidential campaign fund, keeping it up and running for at least two more years, according to sources. Moreover, he still has his Senate re-election PAC, as well as his new leadership PAC, to keep him busy and rolling in political influence.

p> BACK TO SQUARE ONE br> Outgoing DNC chairman

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