The Ghost of Campaigns Past

There are two stories at Political Wire that show just what a problem past campaigns can be for potential '08 candidates. First, John F'ing Kerry:

Sen. John Kerry "had a dozen big-bucks Democrats to his Georgetown townhouse for pot roast and butternut squash," according to Page Six.

"According to a source who knows one of the attendees, Kerry started off by asking guests if he should run or not: 'When no one answered, he launched into a speech about why he was the best candidate.'"

John, that blank look on the donors' faces is not rapt attention.

It's not much better for Republicans, as Mitt Romney is discovering:

Comments made by Massachsuetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) during his 1994 Senate bid, "in which he said the gay and lesbian community 'needs more support from the Republican Party,' resurfaced yesterday, posing a potential hurdle as he appeals to conservatives for a probable presidential campaign," the Boston Globe reports.

However, Bloomberg notes Romney is still making inroads among conservatives who do not trust Sen. John McCain.

Being a little fuzzy on key conservative issues is not the way to a conservative's heart. Romney may have a tough time explaining those past statements.