Colleagues cool to Kerry on energy

John Kerry has been the most aggressive advocate of climate change legislation in the Senate this year — so aggressive that it’s rubbed some of his colleagues the wrong way.

The Massachusetts Democrat is making his pitch with an almost religious fervor, pushing a message that’s equal parts saving the planet, national security and the economy. Many of his colleagues have been impressed by Kerry’s expertise and his passion in trying to push through caps on carbon when others would prefer to move onto a more limited, energy-only bill.

Yet it’s that same zeal that is making some swing-vote Democrats cringe at the thought of negotiating with someone they fear is tone-deaf to the political realities of their respective states — particularly in a difficult midterm elections year.

Kerry’s style, said Sen. John Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), is akin to being “pursued by a suitor, just as boys pursue girls.”

Rockefeller, who last week called on the Senate to ignore carbon limits, declined to say whether Kerry is the Democrats’ best messenger on climate, saying it was “sort of too direct a question” to answer.

“Well, he’s certainly a constant,” Rockefeller said. “The question is whether that’s good.”

“He’s so obsessed,” said one wavering Democratic senator who has been pursued by Kerry. “Clearly, it’s all climate, all the time with him.”

Kerry is well aware that his tactics may have turned off some of his colleagues.

“No one pretends this has been an easy issue,” he told POLITICO. “It’s been contentious for the 20 years we’ve been trying to pass a bill. Have I worked aggressively? Absolutely. But I’ve also listened hard.”

But Thursday’s climate-focused Democratic Caucus meeting left some senators grumbling that Kerry talked too much and didn’t listen enough. Although Kerry opened his presentation with Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) by apologizing for being so aggressive on the issue and explaining how important he thinks it is, he then went on to speak much longer than either New Mexico Sen. Jeff Bingaman or Washington Sen. Maria Cantwell, the two other presenters at the meeting.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) had to postpone the discussion for another meeting this week.

“It took too much time presenting,” complained Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus of Montana. “Senators like to talk.”

A Baucus aide said his boss wasn’t singling out Kerry, but there’s no question that the Democrats’ 2004 presidential candidate has taken on an outsize role on climate change since he grabbed the legislative reins about a year ago.

According to his staff, he’s had 292 meetings and phone calls with senators, 72 meetings with Obama administration officials and 46 meetings with top international and environmental leaders, including U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and former Vice President Al Gore.

Kerry said that he’s following direction from Democratic leaders and other senators who wanted him to meet with industry representatives and other groups from across the country.