STORY CITY - U.S. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., attended a fundraising brunch Saturday in Story City to stump for Rich Olive, D-Story City, who is running against Jim Kurtenbach, R-Nevada, for the Iowa Senate District 5 seat this fall.
      Kerry was the Democratic presidential nominee in 2004 but lost to George W. Bush. Although he has not announced whether he will run again for the presidency in 2008, Kerry is considered a potential candidate by many political analysts.
      While Kerry encouraged attendees to support a Democratic presidential victory in 2008, he added, "I'm here because '06, not '08, is really important."
      Kerry said that after the 2004 election, he had the chance to "take stock of the country" and the issues facing it. He said he thinks the public is "tired of a government full of words and broken promises" and partisanship.
      "(We should) represent all people," Kerry said. "Not a group of powerful special money interests. (Rich Olive) is a truth-teller. He is a guy who is just hardcore values. ... (He will help) break the partisan logjam."
      During the brunch, Olive said Iowa "needs to do a better job retaining jobs and a better job recruiting jobs."
      He said if the state's economic development and job market were secure, young people would have more incentive to remain in the state.
      Olive also said he supports increasing teacher wages and controlling high tuition levels so "everybody can go on to some kind of secondary education."
      Kerry mentioned similar issues and also talked about the national budget.
      "We are spending billions of dollars exporting democracy," he said. "(We should) spend money on democracy here at home."
      Kerry addressed the war in Iraq directly, saying, "Iraq is a quagmire."
      Other topics he spoke of included shrinking pensions, incompetent elected officials, energy independence and rising health care costs.
      "We can make health care available to every single American," Kerry said. "It is achievable without breaking the bank, I promise you."
      Also in attendance were Selden Spencer, D-Huxley, who is running against Tom Latham, R-Alexander, in Iowa's 4th Congressional District for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives; State Sen. Herman Quirmbach; Story County Supervisor Wayne Clinton; and Story County Sheriff Paul Fitzgerald.
      Kerry made an earlier stop in Iowa City Friday to speak with U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, and cyclist Lance Armstrong about cancer research.

Sarah Raaii can be reached
at 232-2161, Ext. 472,
or Sarah.Raaii@amestrib.com.