Kerry says he might exceed spending limit [View All]

[Nicholas_J]

Would follow suit if Dean rejects public financing
By Michael Kranish, Globe Staff, 9/11/2003

WASHINGTON -- Senator John F. Kerry said yesterday that he would break a federal spending cap, reject public financing for the presidential primaries, and possibly use his personal funds if Howard Dean's fund-raising strength leads the former Vermont governor to go beyond the federal spending limit.

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Dean sent a letter to the government in June saying he would abide by the limit, but is now considering exceeding the cap.

"If Howard Dean decides to go live outside of it, I'm not going to wait an instant," Kerry said in an interview at his campaign headquarters. "Decision's made. I'll go outside. Absolutely. I'm not going to disarm."

As recently as Aug. 31, the Massachusetts Democrat expressed indecision on the matter, saying only that he would "reserve the right" to exceed the cap if Dean did so.

No major Democratic candidate has rejected public financing and the spending cap since the voluntary program became law after the Watergate scandal.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2003/09/11/kerry_says_he_might_exceed_spending_limit/