Sen. Kerry Wants to Move On From His Botched Joke

WASHINGTON – Enough with The Joke, John Kerry says.

The Massachusetts senator and former Democratic presidential nominee said Wednesday night that it's time to move on from his botched attempt at humor before the midterm election.

Kerry had said young people might get "stuck in Iraq" if they do not study hard and do their homework. He said he was trying to poke fun at President Bush, but Bush and others accused him of criticizing the troops.

"This is getting silly," Kerry told a cable news network. "The country needs to think about a policy that has young men and women at risk on a daily basis that is not working."

Kerry also said he has not decided yet whether he will run for the White House again in 2008.

According to a Quinnipiac University poll taken the week after the Nov. 7 election, he'd have some work to win over the hearts of many Americans. He got the lowest popularity ratings of 20 national leaders in the survey.

"I would have voted myself last, based on when it was taken," Kerry said, joking again.