John Kerry announces his endorsement of Barack Obama two days after the New Hampshire primary — not two days before, or a week before, when it would have helped in New Hampshire. Does Kerry really think he’s got more pull in South Carolina than in New Hampshire?
Maybe the campaign reasoned that it would win New Hampshire anyway and it could use Kerry later, but that doesn’t seem likely. Kerry won New Hampshire because of his supposed “electability,” and he has some important contacts here (maybe they’re all with Clinton.) As an elder statesman of the party he could have given Obama some credentials on the experience/gravitas issue which really hurt him here. Big mistake to hold the endorsement until after the primary.
Kerry’s decision reminds me of the great exchange between Dr. Strangelove and the Soviet ambassador:
Dr. Strangelove: Of course, the whole point of a Doomsday Machine is lost, if you keep it a secret! Why didn’t you tell the world, EH?!
Ambassador de Sadesky: It was to be announced at the Party Congress on Monday. As you know, the Premier loves surprises.