By Katie Curley Katzman
NEWBURYPORT — New York Republican strategist and self-described "GOP hitman" Roger Stone says he hopes to convince Dr. Keith Ablow to run against U.S. Sen. John Kerry in 2014.
"John Kerry is the biggest stiff," said Stone, not one to mince words and known for his larger-than-life style of politics and dress. "Anyone with two arms and two legs could have beaten George W. Bush (in 2004 presidential election) except John Kerry."
Stone, a legendary — some would say notorious — political consultant who played key roles in the elections of Republican presidents Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and both George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush, is widely credited with the public relations rehabilitation of Nixon after his resignation in 1974.
On Jan. 23, Stone was spotted at a table with Newburyport psychiatrist Keith Ablow dining in a New York City restaurant. While Ablow has said he has not made any formal decisions as to whether he will run against Kerry in the next election, he has not ruled it out either.
"Roger asked me to think about the idea," Ablow said last week. "It's so far off in time, I haven't needed to decide yet. I am flattered a man with such expertise would suggest it."
Stone has had a hand in Republican "opposition research" for years and has been a consultant to Big Apple notables such as Donald Trump. He's been called a "dirty trickster" by The New Yorker and a man with "a reputation for hard-edged political tactics" by the New York Times. One of his most notable moments was organizing the so-called Brooks Brothers Riot in 2000, in which pro-George W. Bush protesters stormed a Miami-Dade County election board, stopping the recount.
Ablow said he knows Stone through a mutual friend and after a conversation regarding unrelated topics, Stone told Ablow to think about politics.
"I'm interested in using the talent I have to help the greatest number of people I can help," Ablow said. "He suggested politics as a way to do that."
While not a career politician, Ablow does have some experience. "As a kid I worked for U.S. Sen. Ed Brooke," he said. Brooke, a Republican, was elected as the state's first black senator in 1966 and served until 1979.
Ablow's lack of political experience is exactly what the people want, Stone said.
"Voters are looking beyond the career politician and they have distrust of politicians," Stone said. "They want men and women out of government to provide leadership and 'Doc,' as we would call him, would be the first doctor and first psychiatrist in the Senate. He has a different perspective and people are fed up with the people in the system now."
Stone also pointed to Ablow's experience in broadcasting as an asset in politics.
"He can talk on television and radio, and politics largely today is communication," Stone said. "Also, if you can understand the psychology of voters, it will set you apart."
While a lot can happen in four years, Stone said Ablow needs to make a decision in the near future in order to start raising funds.
"A year is a lifetime in politics," Stone said. "But on the other hand, you can't start thinking too early. Running is a multi-million dollar project which takes time, so if Doc runs, he needs to decide by 2012."
Stone said in his conversation with Ablow, the doctor expressed regret for not running against U.S. Senator-elect Scott Brown for the Republican nomination.
"The Republican side is on an upswing right now, but that doesn't mean in four years it won't swing back to the Democrats," Stone said. "But then again if you told me two weeks ago a Republican was going to win a Kennedy seat in the Senate, I wouldn't have believe it."
Stone said the future of politics will be a movement toward independent candidates.
"The Republicans who tend to win are liberal Republicans of the Weld, Celucci mold," Stone said. "Brown is pretty conservative."
