Kerry and Edwards have both requested Secret Service detail - WP

[VolcanoJen]

Interesting tidbit that appears at the very end of this Washington Post article:

John Kerry, Keeping One Step Behind His Pack

Excerpt:

Still, the United States government has not yet bestowed that stamp of ultimate authenticity upon Kerry, although both his and the Edwards campaigns have put in their requests. When the protective detail comes, the seas part, the car goes armored, and agents guard the home. But not all five: Not the one in Idaho, not the one in Nantucket, or Pittsburgh or Boston. Just the mansion on O Street in Georgetown.

There's a congressional committee that has to approve such requests, says a spokeswoman for the Homeland Security Department. But the committee has yet to make its recommendation, leaving John Kerry still waiting for one more primary win: The Secret Service primary.

I do wish they'd get on with it. The sooner our front-runners receive Secret Service protection, the better. I worry about them. :-( When does this traditionally happen? I always thought it wasn't until the convention, but considering the crowds these two have been encountering, I think it's time to pay a little closer attention to the security issue.

Here's another mention of a Kerry request, in a Boston Globe article from February 11, as well as a funny line that seems to be aimed at a certain dusty city in Texas:

Success resonates and reels in crowds

Kerry aides say they have begun talking to the Secret Service about protection for the front-runner.

Kerry himself has also noted, half-jokingly, that the White House press corps will enjoy spending summers in Nantucket and winters in Ketchum, Idaho, near Kerry's two vacation homes.

[2004Donkeys]

1. Major primary candidates are supposed to receive them

This is freakish.

[patmacsf]

2. I was under the impression they had declined up to now

I recall a news report just recently as stating that the campaigns had specifically declined protection up to this point. The campaigns are well aware (or should be) of the criteria and any delays and should have planned accordingly. I'm sure they are monitoring any threats that have been made so far and are in contact with their own private security teams.

Don't get everyone all worked up. This is natural and the candidates are protected.

[Leilani]

3. Flame Away

but these two guys are wealthy beyond most people's dreams.

If they feel that they need security, why don't they pay for it, until secret service protection kicks in?

Why should the tax payers have to cover these costs?

I thought secret service protection started when a person became the nominee.

[VolcanoJen]

5. Have they turned down protection thus far?

I'm reasonably certain that the major candidates each have their own private security detail. Is it possible that Edwards and Kerry have turned down Secret Service protection up until now, but have recently requested it?

Once the candidate becomes the nominee, it would seem that Secret Service protection is automatic.

From the DHS site addressing this issue:

http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?theme=71&content=255

Presidential and Vice Presidential Candidates

In 1968, Congress expanded Secret Service responsibilities to include protection of major Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates. This expansion occurred after the assassination of Presidential Candidate Robert F. Kennedy. (Public Law 98-587) The Major Events Division Candidate Nominee Operations Section has the responsibility for campaign planning and coordination.

The Secret Service has no role in determining who is to be considered a major candidate.

The Secret Service provides protection for major candidates, unless declined. Protection is also authorized for the spouses of Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates for 120 days preceding the national election. Children of each newly elected President and Vice President are also authorized protection.

[Freddie Stubbs]

9. They are eligible before that

They changed the law after RFK was killed during the primary season.

[chiburb]

10. Bobby Kennedy was wealthy beyond our dreams too...

Yet Congress decided after his assassination that ALL major candidates would have SS protection.
Why should the taxpayers have to pay 1/2 for all BushCo's fund raising trips? I'd rather pay for his successor's protection.

[VolcanoJen]

11. chiburb, at what point to the candidates receive protection?

Perhaps they've refused it up until now, but judging by the Washington Post and Boston Globe articles, both Edwards and Kerry have requested Secret Service detail.

[chiburb]

13. Sorry Jen,

I just got home. I don't know the details, but supposedly a Congressional Committee decides the particulars and gives the Treasury Dept. the ok. Shouldn't be too hard to get this story to the mainstream press though, and let them ask the question...

[VolcanoJen]

14. No problem!!

I do think we're past the point where it's time to start asking about keeping these gentlemen safe and sound.

I'm thinking Wallace here, specifically, although I'm not sure why; and I don't know why I'm creeped out about it, and I don't intend to get anyone worked up, but I would just like some answers from my government and the candidates vis-a-vis Secret Service protection.

Thanks, chiburb. :-)

[chiburb]

19. Kerry GETS Secret Service protection...

As of today, and it appears that Edwards is soon (but may not have requested it yet)...

Snip:

Federal law allows candidates to seek protection if they meet a series of standards, including public prominence as measured by polls and fund raising.

"A threat could be part of that equation," Mazur said, declining to reveal whether Kerry was the subject of specific threats.

As for Edwards, he said, "Protection of Senator Edwards has been authorized and the Secret Service is in discussions with the campaign as to when the protective detail will start."

"I expect to have an announcement on that soon," said Edwards spokeswoman Jennifer Palmieri.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/02/20/politics0939EST0523.DTL

[spooky3]

16. Geez, if the tax payers are protecting *, they should be protecting our

candidates. Both of these guys are giving up a lot in order to run for office; I know I'd be sipping hot chocolate in Ketchum or wine on O Street if I were in their shoes. They should not have to spend a dime of their private money to protect them from nutcases who want to harm them because they are trying to save us from another 4 years of *.

[MurikanDemocrat]

4. Makes me think of Robert Kennedy

[DaisyUCSB]

6. wow, 5 freakin houses! This guy will never be able to stop the flack

that eats away at him from having married 2 different insanely rich women. My dad told me that he had a friend who worked on his campaign against Bill Weld and that the GOP running tv ads about Kerry's exhorbatance(such as something about filing for bankrupcty after his divorce when he baught a luxury Italian motorcycle) is what made the election such a skweaker more than the issues or Bill Welds "popularity".

[SoCalDem]

7. Jesse Jackson had SS protection

I only knew about it because one of them was a guy I went to high school with..:)

[VolcanoJen]

8. A little kick for the daytime crowd

Just wondering if anyone else has been pondering this issue...

- Jennifer

[colonel odis]

12. hmmmmmm.... i wonder which would be more dangerous

for them not to have secret service protection ........ or to have armed agents of the federal govt around them.

or perhaps bush will choose to make them "go wellstone."

[Edwards4President]

15. Secret Service agents are not political assassins

These men and women are hardworking, brave and dedicated public servants who put their lives on the line every day. Please do not denigrate them this way.

[mb7588a]

17. Secret Service guys scare the daylights out of me,

but they are the best protection force in the world.

It's too bad we don't know more about them. :(

[Edwards4President]

18. What more do you need to know about them?

[maddezmom]

20. Kerry, Edwards Getting Secret Service Protection

http://www.thesandiegochannel.com/politics/2862208/detail.html

[VolcanoJen]

21. Yay!! Thank Goodness!

Thanks, Eagle-Eyed DUers, for holding watch over this story.

I'm a little more comfortable now. :-)

[Padraig18]

22. Thanks be to God!

I wish they could ALL get it! I live in mortal terror of an assasin trying to change with a bullet that which should only ever be changed with a ballot!