John Kerry in 2012 spotlight
It of course focuses a lot on the SoS position (Politico's lens), but explains how Kerry could be useful against Romney (take a deep breath before reading the sentence comparing Romney to Kerry!)
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0412/75725.html
The Obama campaign is ready to deploy Kerry as a top surrogate on foreign policy and national security this year, a natural task for the 68-year-old Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman, whom many party strategists see as a nearly perfect foil for presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney.
...
Most important to party strategists is that regardless of Kerry’s ultimate motivation, he’s a guy who can score points against Romney. The two Massachusetts pols have plenty in common: Romney has been compared to Kerry repeatedly this year for his vast wealth, wooden style and reputation for ideological flexibility.
The hope is Kerry can take apart Romney’s Bay State record as few others can.
With Obama’s defense record one of his selling points — and Romney’s Massachusetts governorship a ripe target — Democrats believe Kerry is uniquely positioned to take the fight to Romney on issues from Baghdad to Braintree.
“John Kerry is one of the president’s closest allies on foreign policy and is the leading voice on those issues in the Senate,” said Obama deputy campaign manager Stephanie Cutter. “So he’s uniquely qualified to talk about the president’s record in keeping the country safe and restoring our strength in the world and what the stakes are if we reverse course and go back to the same policies of the last administration.”
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0412/75725.html#ixzz1tWQ3E9x7
= new reply since forum marked as read
JAO. The media, GOP, some Democrats and liberals have done (somewhat) permanent damage to Senator Kerry in terms of image and perception; especially in noted praise for Obama's likability.
Just look at comments here and elsewhere that still note how Gore and Kerry are/were stiff like Romney and can't/couldn't connect. One Grio.com article brought up him "losing" the "wanna have a beer with" argument because of being "aristocratic." Holla back when someone who was at an 04 rally or on the street/place where the Senator visited, and answer what motivated them to show up for somebody that wasn't an extrovert and you know the rest.
Aside from the Ohio drama and everything else, very convinced that other strong factors (i.e. hunting, the stereotypes of NE liberals and wealth, etc.) cost him 1600. Just an observation.
Things happen for a reason, and noticed that the authors used the word "humbling" to describe his loss. Some have said the POTUS and FLOTUS are the embodiment of staying humble during or after difficult experiences in life. Experiences like that can and should humble a person, and that is what's missing in DC pols on the Hill.
That said, glad that Team Obama is seeing the Senator as a close ally on Foreign Policy, even if isn't a rah-rah issue like jobs and the fact that some might ask what about VP Biden (since he has been going after Rmoney on FP). Not many understand the role of the SFRC and see that the Senator has a right to speak out also.
As for the SOS rumors, (thought he and his spokespeople denied it?) he got game. However, after watching the O administration the last three years, it seems like working for them isn't all that it's cracked up to be (the behind the scenes dramas, etc). He seems to be happy as an independent voice as the Senior Senator from MA (though still don't think he has the same type of respect from MA like Uncle Ted had, yet). Though people have a very low view of the US Senate, in terms of lack of diversity, hopefully that will change one day.
People may get on me for saying all this, and this wasn't meant to shade Kerry, Gore or anyone, just adding some 2 cents about the article.
Peace. 
and wasn't taking a swipe at Senator Kerry, and only noted one article (from the Grio) and that was it. 
Sorry for saying anything. Guess that opinions don't seem to be welcomed now. Peace.
Whoops, poli's bad.
Was taking what was said in the Politico article and just tying it to what was said in The Grio article, especially what was said about Romney (and yes, took a long breath before reading the Romney part). It should be taken with a grain of salt, but still.
Should not have mentioned the Grio, but it talked about the likability issue last week with Obama and Romney. You might have been looking at the right site. They have a Politics section (though the comments from some articles are infested with trolls).
It talked about each presidential race and how the likability issue was a reason that the presidents won (and stole).
In the Politico issue they used the same memes that Kerry could not .... like Romney, therefore, I decided to state what I felt about this all. America can be very fickle. Props to France and would love to study French one day.
This wasn't meant to take anything away from the Senator is doing right now. It is just too bad that that he (and Momma T) can't have an outlet like the extrovert pols (like wisteria said a few years ago--paraphrasing) to prove the memes that Bush cronies left behind wrong. He may not be defined by them, but that is what people remember. And our side will probably use them to make both prove a true point about Romney and make Obama look good, (though the Bush comparison makes O look bad).
Wasn't expecting people to agree with me, but it's just an observation. 
On second thought, haven't visited here much since Senator Kerry became a grandpapi, but sometimes I come across articles like this one. Sometimes will ignore it, other times, maybe not.
That said, you are right, this isn't as bad as articles go.
And given the tragic mess with the former VP candidate it's not surprising to see the serious ones are moving away from the 04 campaign because it was not meant to be a Dem year. CW should not matter anymore, as mean-spirited as it is, but we shall see. Hopefully that trend (moving away from eight years ago) will continue, though it would be sweet (or sour) to find out about the Ohio shenanigans!
Peace. 
