John Kerry with Tom Finneran

US senator Senator John Kerry who apparently John senator I should say. You've been doing some pretty active campaigning -- have a Barack Obama.

Yes I have as have others we're we're out there because we relive -- as -- turns to change things if we can get a mandate for that change. And put on him today I think it would be very adjusting to the country I figured as a child so really changing what happens a martian and how it performs and what we're doing.

Senator you're at the rally last night with dear colleague guest senator Ted Kennedy the governor governor Deval Patrick and by all news accounts thousands and thousands of folks all the candidates at this point a bone died there exhausted you have some familiarity familiarity with that in their voices -- strained how is Iraq and responding to his Boston his Boston supporters.

It was terrific eight actually you know I have to motel they really sort of Belgrade is sound the greatest voices not god in his energized I think radio is that people energized UP get a lot of sense of feedback from that but. What's really important as he has built already a tremendous movement across the country diminishing the governor of Kansas the governor of Virginia the governor of Arizona the senators from Nebraska in the Dakotas. There's a trust places little red states stopped you know especially XP get elected yeah and they're all they're all supporting Barack Obama and they've why. Yeah its freedom of speech senators you're -- you know two of them you know -- those people I've mentioned a women. And they're choosing Barack Obama unfortunately Barack because they really believe. He has a better ability to bring voters to the road to the -- in there are states. But he has a better ability to appeal to Democrats independents Republicans to build the kind. A coalition that we waited for a long time.

John give us senate to -- we I guest is Senator Kerry and Senator Kerry nobody more knowledgeable in terms of the landscape of the dynamic momentum over presidential race and this at this point in time. As you look at that landscape. What do the most difficult states fall Barack Obama this day to day in addition to New York. What else looks like it'll be a very contentious battle ground.

Well California is going to be a big battleground in the region it's more -- around there might be. Others go to two races there -- one there all the absentee ballots that were taken out three and four weeks ago both former -- one South Carolina before uni related reached California they're -- The campaign and I think bit those those absentee ballots you know to have this sort of air and -- an inevitability in the packed campaign has changed dramatically since -- so you've just measure the votes cast today it'll be really interesting to see the outcome even though obviously that doesn't. -- what have delegates certainly -- Brock wins California that's an earthquake.

No question about it senate Senator Kerry event -- not a lot longtime a long the famous and I would say productive friendship. With Senator McCain who looks more bullet to be the nominee the Republican body of that friendship is based upon I think if you -- words you've said the respect you have for his Vietnam his service in Vietnam as well as the leadership he's shown in the United States senate. I think I know the answer to this question bottom obliged to to casket a proven known tested commodity -- Senator McCain with whom you have a friendship. In Barack Obama. -- very hopeful dynamic and almost messianic. Candidate but without the without the breadth of the depth of John McCain how does John Kerry approach that that decision.

Well it's it's obviously you know there is a friendship but I respect John McCain. But the fact is that John McCain I believe is on the wrong side of history on a lot of issues I think his misunderstanding of the war in Iraq has misunderstanding of the nature of this effort against terrorism perpetuates the policies have gotten us into trouble fact is that he is a total whole hearted almost singular supporter of the bush policy. The bush policy has created. Enemies which alienated friends. It has attracted jihad terrorists it's been a terrible policy I think all of the Republicans going to have to answer that. -- support that and for a lot more for the lack of health care America for the lack of a serious corporate you know without the lack of adequate song don't child left behind. But you're just a host of boats additions that will define this race. So while I respect John's service that I like him personally as you can with people that you are aware of I just think that that is going to be -- stark contrast about where American needs to go and how we get there. What do you with hockey United's hot that would not be going well beyond like a contrast. The trainer Jack Kennedy -- Richard Nixon you know and I think the Republican policies that made America less safe. And you can look around the world as -- here hamas' stronger in the Middle East Hezbollah is stronger in the Middle East. There haven't made progress in the peace process you have Lebanon which is -- Briscoe democracy in the region you have obviously turmoil in Iraq. I mean the fact here's that live there you know their policies just seven gotten job done. The world has not moved forward at the global climate change directions each.

Which are going to Senator John Kerry S secretary let me bring home a little bit -- local and politically relevant a nice little face off for those of us who are observers mayor Tom Menino speak it that may see senate president Terry Murray have lined up and many others have lined up with Hillary Clinton. Use Senator Kennedy Deval Patrick on the the other side how that how of those dynamics as we approach really you know that the today is that is is judgment day. Howdy repair those those tensions that exist.

It ain't -- there aren't any tensions I've not talked all those people. And you know we're all trans. We just have a different opinion about a choice spur -- but this is not you know don't build too much gentler Tom I don't think. And in the end we're not going to make that you know that the decision individual voters make their decision. And no way the arguments that we help but try to put in front of them. But -- you know Massachusetts voters are smart there independent. Nobody tells them what to do not on -- side and not on peroxide we get advisedly can try to give an opinion. And and I just wouldn't bill too much into that I talked everyone of those folks were all going to be on the same team in a few days and we'll all be working to move the country forward.

Curious as you look he had to a young guy Barack Obama who's making phenomenal progress great great impression coast to coast you've spoken to some of the specifics what are the pitfalls in the from you know you -- vantage point in your experience. That a guy like him has to look how far I mean is it going to come from. -- beyond the Republican Party which is fairly predictable is going to come from the press we at what else is out there that you'd say hey Iraq you're my friend watch out for this.

What I picked up speed the attack machine it will launch in full force before too long. There are obviously going to try to scare people that try to scare them on quote the experience issue and so forth and that's really where. I think they're mixture tackle com and I think -- you know like the fact is that Barack Obama. Is older than John Kennedy was older than Teddy Roosevelt older than Bill Clinton was when they became president. He has more foreign policy experience at a national level then did the President Clinton when he and president he serves on the foreign relations committee today are served there with them. I know his instinct and they're judged -- about the war in the beginning and I think you're gonna have a measurement of judgment here in the fact is that the Republican decision did you you know George Bush's war torn switched John McCain wholeheartedly support two dollars as as a miserable horrible. Dramatically wrong decision. And those of us who voted gain power itself with the understanding president was going to do a number of things build a coalition. Exhaust the remedies in the United Nations go to war as a last resort he didn't do any of those sites and none of them. And the Republicans likely what often supported -- and misadventure. This cost America it's gonna cost us more the trillion dollars may be true. They're good -- in the schools and highways and felt scared countless other things. It has dramatically impacted our relationship in the world but the negative it's it is sidetracked all kinds of other things including the effort in Afghanistan. Where we all voted to go and get the job done and where Al Qaeda today. Is plotting against the United States. So I think you know that should missile gap com. That's your missile gap but the 1960s the fact is Barack Obama comes in this job with a lifetime of experience of judgment of character he's been. You know as a state senator for eight years he's. Partner at a law firm -- in a law professor he talked the constitution he's been a community organizer. Abraham Lincoln only -- two years in the United States congress that's since that's his whole elected. That's that federal lots this position two years and he's our greatest president what were electing his judgments. And it. And I believe Barack Obama has the right person at the right --

John you've given us a lot of time last question just came out of the debate last week that Iraq and Hillary stage doubt and California right believe it was. In a there was a specific question about Iran my recollection is that Barack Obama talked about a carat carrots. And sticks approach you both on the foreign relations committee as you say Iran continues to do a variety of things that trouble many nations not just us. I'm curious what you think this sticks are are should be. And when did this sticks -- but he dropped the carrots in stat to move toward the sticks.

Well there are really. Do significant sticks what is obviously military action which almost everybody has said is that really that suspect it's got dramatic downsides. It's always an option you know taken off the table the other option is. That you get multi lateral sanctions multilateral sanctions multi lateral as what worked in South Africa. It didn't work it isn't working and Burma out of the world and Olympic does not all bilateral. So RB get people to join in the you have to go through a process of remedies of sort of bringing them on board to the point. Where they realized there is no other alternative the fact is that there are many factions in Iran Iran as a problem. -- did just that there's is an insult in the comment to. I'll I'll because that Israel are disgusting but the fact is they're it is -- in power in the in -- supreme power is -- many. Their leader you know there at the legislator and and the fact is there are different factions vying for power there there's a young population coming up. Technocrats people have access to the Internet people have been educated abroad. There are a lot of different currency and program and what we need to do is door Richard Nixon did what he said Henry Kissinger Mao Tse Tung in red China. Do it Ronald Reagan did when he sat down with Gorbachev and and negotiated with evil empire that's statesmanship. And this president has -- just significantly lacking and I believe Barack Obama has accurately assess. That he's going to have an administration that reaches out even to our enemies as John Kerry said. You know you never negotiate out of spear which you never fear to negotiate.

couldn't say it better myself and curious because the the it's kind of remember who moderated that debate but they never pushed Iraq on -- I'm glad I had a chance to to push you wanted to Senator Kerry -- I'm delighted you were able to join us also thanks to -- joining us last week in the aftermath of the state of the union twice a week know everybody on Iraq and we -- appreciated very very much you get out there on the campaign trail. All all the voters who eliciting a -- a call in about the reaction to senator Kerry's remarks in the voting habits so special thanks to John Kerry we'll take a short break we'll be back to all the calls in a moment on -- succeed