"Playing Hamlet"

John Kerry political cartoon.

May 24, 2004...

To be, or not to be the nominee?

Sen. John Kerry has a money problem. Once he accepts the Dem presidential nomination, he locks into the $75 million from the FEC and his unlimited fundraising comes to a complete halt -- five weeks before his opponent’s, President Bush. That means Bush has five more weeks than Kerry to raise unlimited campaign dollars.

How did this happen? Democrat Party Chairman Terry McAuliffe, wanting the selection process for the Democrats to be over early, scheduled the Democrats’ Convention in Boston from July 26 to 29 -- five weeks before the Republicans’ Convention in New York, Aug. 30 to Sept. 2.

What’s a candidate to do? How about this: hold a nominating convention, but don’t accept the nomination... yet. Yes, that way Kerry can have his cake and eat it, too. Having things both ways is very Kerry-esque, nes pas?

Now Kerry – the To Be Or Not To Be Nominee – can boldly state, “I actually will be the nominee before I will be it.”