Kerry Fund Raising Helping Democrats

Senator's handouts help Dems Kerry on
By Andrew Miga
Sunday, April 10, 2005

WASHINGTON - Sen. John F. Kerry [related, bio] is fast becoming the Democratic Party's personal ATM - dispensing bundles of cash and helping to raise money for party causes and candidates such as Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Kerry's highest voltage money event this spring will be a major fund-raising dinner for Clinton, D-N.Y., a potential 2008 White House rival, at a downtown Boston hotel in early May.
``It was totally Kerry's idea,'' said Kerry adviser Jenny Backus. ``She was very helpful to his presidential campaign, so he wanted to help her out early on.''

The Kerry and Clinton finance committees have been working together for weeks, aides said, to pump up the event.
``Kerry wants to do all he can to help her,'' said Backus. ``He's totally focused on helping other Democrats for the House and Senate, to help take back Congress and boost the Democratic Party all across the country.''
Unlike past presidential nominees who tend to fade after the fall race, Kerry, D-Mass., who has said he might run again in 2008, has been aggressive about keeping his network of nearly 1 million supporters intact and maintaining a high national profile on key issues such as children's health care.
Kerry's fund-raising blitz on behalf of other Democrats is central to that overall strategy.
``He's completely into winning elections for Democrats running in '05 and '06,'' said Backus.
The Bay State senator also will visit several states, including Texas, in coming weeks to boost his children's health care bill, with some fund-raising stops for various Democrats along the way.
He'll meet with activists, doctors, state legislators and host town meeting-style events to champion his bill.
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