Kerry tries on presidential mantle in blue-collar diner

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/02/03/wus03.xml&sSheet=/portal/2004/02/03/ixportal.html&secureRefresh=true&_requestid=122646

While other candidates sniped at one another and all but pleaded for votes, Sen Kerry played the dignified front-runner. Ignoring his rivals, and making no mention of polls that place him ahead in five of the seven states holding primaries, he directed his energies to attacks on President George W Bush, as if the nomination was already his.

There was nothing haughty about the Frontier diner, a blue-collar Albuquerque landmark, as the Kerry roadshow rolled into town. Yet, like several customers, Daniel Sitting Bull, having a coffee on his way to work, declared himself a newly-converted Kerry supporter. Mr Sitting Bull - a direct descendant of Chief Sitting Bull, the 19th-century Sioux leader - had no quarrel with Sen Kerry's blue-blood style. Nor was he swayed by Dr Dean's charges that Sen Kerry is a closet Republican and Washington insider in league with big business and special interests. "You want to have somebody as president who has experience with top business, in government, and who can show a professional manner," said Mr Sitting Bull.

But success is leading to forgiveness as Democrats nationwide jump on his bandwagon. Where once he was derided as stiff, he is now praised as dignified and sincere.

However, he came under savage attack at the weekend, as it emerged that he has received more donations from corporate lobbyists than any other Democratic presidential candidate.

They know exactly what to say to get elected.

DC Dems are part of the problem.

They were not happy with his BCCI and IranContra investigations.

They were not happy he advocated for gays legislatively and to allow them to serve openly in the military.

They were not happy with his years of work helping to craft the Kyoto Protocol that the career corporatists (like Dean) wanted no part of.

They were not happy that his 1997 book, The New War, pointed to the failings of our government to secure this nation and the world from terrorists funded by international governments.