Dukakis content with minor role

BOSTON — Former Massachusetts Gov. Michael S. Dukakis yesterday accepted his low-profile convention role as a defeated presidential candidate and praised Democratic nominee Sen. John Kerry, who got a political jump-start as Mr. Dukakis’ lieutenant governor.

In an interview with The Washington Times, Mr. Dukakis — who saw his huge lead in the polls blown away by George H.W. Bush in 1988 — downplayed the fact that he was not among the dozens of speakers at the Democratic National Convention.

He said that’s fine with him and that he expected only what he got last night — an introduction from the podium, along with George McGovern, who lost to Richard Nixon in 1972, and Walter F. Mondale, defeated by Ronald Reagan in 1984.

“[Losing] nominees do not address the convention. The only nominee who ever addressed the convention was Al Gore the other day, and he won,” Mr. Dukakis said in a slap at President Bush’s electoral victory four years ago.

Mr. Dukakis, 70, now a professor of political science at Northeastern University here, dismissed speculation as to why a former governor and presidential candidate from the host state would not make the list of convention speakers.

Mr. Dukakis credited himself with helping launch Mr. Kerry’s political career in 1982, when Mr. Kerry won his first elective office as Mr. Dukakis’ No. 2 man. Halfway through the four-year term, Mr. Kerry ran for and won his seat in the Senate.

“He was a terrific lieutenant governor, and that had a lot to do with getting himself elected to the U.S. Senate,” said Mr. Dukakis.

Messrs. Dukakis, McGovern and Mondale have hardly been idle here, visiting various delegations and occasionally teaming up to speak with students.

“It’s the busiest week I’ve had in years,” Mr. Dukakis said after appearing before the Massachusetts delegation. “Without those people, I wouldn’t have been elected dogcatcher.”

He dismissed the suggestion that Mr. Kerry would be harmed by the “Northeastern liberal” tag that dogged Mr. Dukakis in 1988.

“I think it’s nonsense, and it’s not sticking. I don’t even know who the liberals and conservatives are anymore,” he said. “He’s his own man, and that’s why he will win.”

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