Kerry expects Sox to blaze trail
Hoping for 1-2 punch this fall
The Red Sox swept a weekend series against the Toronto Blue Jays yesterday at Fenway Park, an omen that John F. Kerry, who attended the game, viewed as good for their World Series prospects and his chances to be the next president of the United States.
''I don't believe in 'The Curse.' We're going to prove it. You watch," the Massachusetts senator and presumptive Democratic nominee told NESN after he left his seat on the third-base line and met with team owner John Henry in his private box.
Asked by field reporter Eric Frede about the prospects of the Red Sox reaching the Series in October, just before he faces President Bush in the Nov. 2 general election, Kerry said: 'I think that will be a great omen. . . . I think that that would be just perfect. The Sox are there, and we're soaring on the wave of the Sox mania that sweeps the nation. We could avoid Florida in 2000," he said with a laugh.
Upon arriving at Fenway Park with his daughter Vanessa, several members of his staff, and his former brother-in-law, David Thorne, Kerry brushed off questions about his decision on whether to delay accepting the nomination at the Democratic National Convention in July in Boston. Such a move would allow Kerry to keep raising money until Sept. 1.
He promised a statement today, but staffers later said that no decision had been made.
Kerry was greeted with hearty applause as well as a few boos as he neared his third-row seats just before the game. He sat with his daughter; John Sasso, his point man at the Democratic National Committee; and Meg Vaillancourt, a Red Sox public affairs official. After the game, he left the field through the Sox dugout.
During the NESN interview, Frede jokingly asked Kerry about selecting Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra as his running mate. ''I was thinking of [Johnny] Damon before he shaved [off his beard for charity], you know. He could have had the whole thing going for him," Kerry quipped.
He received more serious advice from Ralph Nader, who is staging a third-party bid for the presidency.
Appearing on ABC's ''This Week," Nader said he suggested Senator John Edwards of North Carolina and Representative Richard A. Gephardt of Missouri when he met with Kerry last week in Washington.
''They're very careful," Nader said. ''They're not going to cause him any embarrassment. And they do bring an additional voter support for him."
Glen Johnson can be reached at johnson@globe.com. 