Boston Globe: Kerry Raising Millions

Kerry raising millions for Democrats

By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press Writer | July 19, 2005

WASHINGTON --Sen. John Kerry, who last November lost his bid for the White House, has spent the last seven months raising millions of dollars for Democrats across the country.

According to staff and campaign reports, Kerry has either contributed or raised more than $4.3 million for candidates and congressional committees since the beginning of the year. That total includes nearly $3 million in direct contributions, and $1.4 million in fund-raising that he directed through his Web site and his campaign for candidates and for troops overseas through the USO.

Shifting his organization from a nationwide presidential campaign to a fund-raising effort, Kerry raised $2.1 million in the last quarter through his Senate re-election committee and his political action committee, Keeping America's Promise, according to spokeswoman Katherine Lister.

Kerry, who is considered a possible candidate for the White House in 2008, has been using his e-mail list of more than 3 million supporters to direct fund-raising to Senate incumbents and Democratic challengers, as well as other state and local candidates.

One fund-raising e-mail for troops overseas raised $650,000, which went directly to the USO, Lister said.

"The 2005 and 2006 races are top priorities right now," said Lister. "John Kerry is working to support state and local efforts to strengthen the Democratic party's grassroots organizations."

So far this year, his Senate re-election committee gave $2.5 million to the Democratic National Committee, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

His political action committee, which was launched in February, will report raising $600,000 in the last quarter, Lister said. The report will be filed at the end of the month.

It also will show that he gave about $135,000 in PAC money directly to Democratic candidates.