Though Sen. Edward Kennedy (D., Mass.) has not decided whether to make another bid for the presidency, he has raised nearly $1 million and taken other preliminary steps, the Boston Globe said Sunday.
Kennedy has made personal and telephone contacts with key Democrats around the country and has a ”campaign-like” schedule of speaking and fundraising appearances for three months after Christmas, the newspaper said. Kennedy has about $1 million of the $4 million his political committee plans to raise through next year, the paper said.
Speaking optimistically about his prospects, Kennedy told the Globe that he plans to put off his decision on running until after the 1986 elections.
Kennedy said he is convinced that he can gain the Democratic nomination. ”The general election would be a tough and difficult path at any time for any candidate,” he said. ”But I don`t consider any of the Republicans that have been mentioned unbeatable.”
But he also said that if the Democrats gain control of the Senate, he would be less likely to give up his seat to seek the presidency.
Kennedy, who lost the Democratic nomination in 1980 to President Jimmy Carter, said he would develop a set of goals before running in 1988.
He said he wanted to develop an issue-oriented program based on his views that people can understand and respond to positively.
