Clinton aide criticizes Kerry's run

ALBANY, N.Y. -- A top adviser to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton thinks fellow Democrat John F. Kerry ''ran what was basically an inconsistent campaign" for president last year, according to a published report.

Clinton and Kerry are considered potential rivals for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination.

The Kerry campaign had ''a different message every two or three weeks," Ann Lewis, director of communications for Clinton's political action committee, said in yesterday's Forward, a Jewish weekly in New York City.

Jenny Backus, a Kerry political aide, said the two senators are close.''They're working together on lots of good bills. He's doing a big fund-raiser for her in Boston. He headlined a big fund-raiser for her in D.C."

''As Senator Clinton said after the election, she thinks John Kerry ran a strong campaign," said Clinton spokesman Philippe Reines, quoting Clinton's remarks after Kerry lost to President Bush.