Democrats on Hill Give John Kerry Hero's Welcome

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/president/articles/2004/03/12/democrats_on_hill_give_kerry_heros_welcome_on_return?mode=PF

The unity theme was punctuated later in the day as Senator John Edwards of North Carolina, the last major challenger to drop from the nomination race, introduced Kerry to about 100 of his campaign donors in an effort to solicit their support for his colleague heading into the general election. The North Carolinian -- regarded as a potential running mate -- also held a private, half-hour meeting with Kerry that began with Edwards saying "Hey, brother" to Kerry when they met at the door of Edwards's office in the Capitol.

Later, heading into the donors' meeting, Kerry and Edwards paused on the sidewalk outside a hotel two blocks from the White House as photographers clicked away. Asked if reporters were looking at the Democratic ticket, Edwards laughed before saying, "We're not taking questions today." Edwards then turned to head into the hotel, but Kerry stayed back a step, feigning incredulity. "See that?" Kerry asked with a smile. "He's answering for me."

<> Introducing Kerry to his fellow House members, Representative Edward J. Markey of Malden, dean of the Massachusetts House delegation, said, according to one person who was present at Kerry's meetings on Capitol Hill: "The Viet Cong couldn't stop him. Richard Nixon couldn't stop him. George Bush can't stop him. He's going to keep fighting until he wins."

<>"The party has never, in my time that I've been in politics, come together like it's coming together," the Massachusetts senator said. He chuckled as he recalled the post-primary period in which his brother, John F. Kennedy, won the 1960 Democratic presidential nomination and continued to spar with some Democrats, including his future running mate, then-Senator Lyndon B. Johnson of Texas. "I could talk to you, in 1960, Lyndon's leaking records about my brother, you know," the senator said.

Thanks! :kick: