McCain wants Kerry to stop looking ahead (Boston Herald)
Straight-talking Sen. John McCain wants his friend Sen. John Kerry to ice his “obvious” desire to run for president again and focus on his day job. “It’s pretty obvious, the way he’s acting, he’d like to try it again,” the Arizona Republican said of a 2008 Kerry bid. “I’d advise him to be the best senator he could be and put those ambitions aside for a while.” McCain said he “absolutely” wants to be president himself but will focus on the Senate and “wait a couple years” to decide on a 2008 run.
Assessing Kerry’s odds in the June issue of Men’s Journal, McCain said, “I think it would be difficult for John, for the same reason it’s hard for all candidates who don’t succeed.”
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Kerry spokeswoman Jenny Backus responded, “It’s always fun to watch Sen. McCain quarterback, especially when he was the captain of the Bush/Cheney team.” McCain also predicted Sen. Hillary Clinton has “a good shot” at the Democratic nomination and that “it would be a mistake to underestimate her.”
I don’t think anyone’s underestimating Clinton. His advice is surely correct, though. Indeed, Clinton has shrewdly focused on her Senate duties first, not only building chits within her party but demonstrating that she was more than a show pony. Kerry would be wise to do the same if he wants another shot at the brass ring.
