Al Sharpton endorsed Sen. John Kerry for president Monday. So to speak.
Sharpton, one of three candidates left in the Democratic presidential race, preferred to say he would “support” the Massachusetts senator in his expected general election showdown with President Bush. But, for now, the Brooklyn minister will continue to campaign for votes in upcoming Democratic primaries.
After a half-hour meeting with Kerry at his downtown headquarters here, Sharpton told reporters, “I intend to continue my campaign . . . to keep the issues of an urban agenda [moving] forward, by electing delegates and appealing to other delegates.”
Sharpton said he has established a rapport with Kerry in the last year and considers him “a good man.”
But he will not drop out of the race because he said he wants to continue to focus on urban schools, health care, police misconduct and other matters.
More pragmatically, a senior Democratic operative noted, Sharpton’s ongoing presidential campaign will make him eligible for public matching funds, while also maintaining his profile on the national stage.
The candidate has $600,000 in campaign debt, some of it money he has lent to his own campaign committee. While federal election officials recently recommended that he receive $100,000 in matching funds, they also suggested they might not transmit the money if they find that Sharpton violated laws limiting what candidates can loan themselves.
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The one-time boy preacher has made a strong mark during the Democratic primaries with his high-flying rhetoric and quick wit.
Entertainment industry figures have said they think that Sharpton’s provocative debate performances have made him a salable commodity. He has hired an agent, who has begun discussions about the possible launch of a radio or television talk show, or even a “reality” TV program.
Sharpton campaign manager Charles Halloran said it’s unclear how much the candidate will continue to campaign and at what point he would shift to campaigning for Kerry.
“I don’t know how much time he will have,” Halloran said. “He’s got a lot of TV and radio offers to deal with.”
The Sharpton and Kerry campaigns began about two weeks ago to discuss how their campaigns might dovetail. When they emerged from their meeting Monday, both men smiled and shook hands.
“I informed him that I think that clearly he has won the nomination, and as I have stated during the race, I will support the nominee,” Sharpton said.
Kerry, indicating that he is willing to give voice to some of Sharpton’s concerns on issues, accepted the “endorsement” from his rival.
“As Al Sharpton has pointed out so many times, in so many places, this administration’s policy toward America’s cities has been one of neglect,” the Massachusetts senator said. “Al Sharpton and I agree on the need for a real urban agenda that brings change and progress to America’s cities.”