http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/inaugural_democrats<snip>
From Kerry, a bit of a shrug was the response when he was, as Bush took the oath of office, how he was doing. The senator and his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, chatted with others on the inaugural platform, and he later attended the congressional luncheon.
Rather than attend inaugural balls in the evening, Kerry gathered close family and friends at his Georgetown home for dinner.
While civility was the public demeanor at the inauguration, many Democrats made it clear that once the president's big day was over, the battle will begin anew.
Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada said he is hoping that the partisan rancor and squabbling of the past four years will give way to a more cooperative tone. "I am optimistic and confident today can be a new beginning, but it can only be a new beginning if that tone will carry forward," he said.
<snip>