WASHINGTON – Democratic front-runner John Kerry (search), who has won 12 of 14 state caucuses and primaries so far, owes part of his massive success to Senate colleague and fellow Bay Stater Ted Kennedy (search).
The lion of the Democratic Party, now serving his eighth term in the U.S. Senate, is out on the campaign trail trying to rally support for Kerry. He's been heard offering advice, opening doors and tapping in to sources and contacts he's developed over the years. Throughout it all, he says he is not an adviser to Massachusetts' junior senator.
"I'm just a friend of John's," Kennedy told Fox News. "He's made up his mind he's going to run a campaign based on his core beliefs. He stuck with them and to them all the way through the campaign and the campaign has responded to them."
Although his own presidential window of opportunity has come and gone, Kennedy is still a player who uses his influence to attack President Bush and help his protégé, Kerry.
Kennedy, who was seen on camera rolling his eyes and shaking his head during President Bush's State of the Union (search) address last month, has been holding nearly daily press conferences attacking the Bush administration on everything from the intelligence in Iraq to job growth, the budget and overtime pay.
Kennedy told Fox News that despite it all, he still loves being in politics.
Click here to watch a fair and balanced report by Fox News' Brian Wilson.
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