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Kerry mulls final decision on presidential run
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. Sen. John Kerry is speeding up his decision on whether to run for president in 2004 after Democratic losses in Tuesday's midterm elections, but he denied reports Sunday that a declaration was imminent. "It won't be in the next week, but it could be in the near term -- I'm not sure," he said. Kerry, D-Massachusetts, was re-elected to a fourth Senate term Tuesday with no Republican opposition. Aides said Sunday he may soon file a statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission that will allow him to begin raising money for a presidential bid. Kerry said Sunday that he has not made a final decision, but "my gut tells me positive things." He said Tuesday's elections show Democrats need to do a better job of addressing the concerns of ordinary workers. "I think these needs must be articulated and they need to be articulated soon," he said. "I need to go and talk to people that I respect and care about. ... So I intend to do that before I make a final decision on whether to open an exploratory committee." Kerry, 58, is a decorated Vietnam War veteran who became a prominent antiwar activist upon his return home. He voted to give President Bush the authority to go to war with Iraq in the confrontation with the Baghdad government, but he warned that the Bush administration hurt the U.S. reputation overseas on a number of issues, including the environment, nuclear proliferation and "our attitude about war." "We are costing America its reputation in the world today," he told ABC's "This Week." "We're costing American businesses jobs. We have relationships all across the world that are breeding distrust now." The Boston Globe reported Sunday that Kerry was expected to file papers with the Federal Election Commission this month, perhaps as early as this week. But one top Kerry operative said nothing was that definite. "It will be sooner rather than later because you can't raise any money before you do the paperwork," the aide said. "No paperwork has been filled out, and no decision on a date has been made." CNN Correspondent Jonathan Karl contributed to this report.
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