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What's in dropping a name? A Kerry testMAQUOKETA, Iowa -- Twice on Friday, John F. Kerry was asked how a Massachusetts senator like himself could win the vote in Southern states, beyond just riding the momentum from his recently surging campaign in Iowa.
In both instances Kerry answered by naming at least six prominent South Carolinians who are supporting his candidacy, including the Democratic leader in the state Senate, whom Kerry had touted at least twice in recent weeks as a backer of his campaign. Yet the state Senate leader, John C. Land III, endorsed another presidential candidate, Senator John Edwards, early last year. Kerry had said last winter that he had won the backing of Land, only to hear Land say he had not yet endorsed a candidate. A few days later Land backed Edwards, who -- like Kerry -- regards a victory in the Feb. 3 primary in South Carolina as important. "John Kerry's people talked to me about going with him, but I decided Edwards had the message that excited me, and also the fact that he's from North Carolina and was born here in South Carolina and who I talk to frequently and knows the issues here," Land said in an interview. On Friday Kerry mentioned Land, as well as the South Carolina House minority leader, James Smith, and other officials. David Wade, a Kerry spokesman, said yesterday that Kerry had confused the Senate and House leaders. Reminded that Kerry had mentioned both leaders, Wade said: "We have a terrific team in South Carolina. Senator Kerry simply misspoke." Patrick Healy can be reached at phealy@globe.com. © Copyright 2004 Globe Newspaper Company.
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