Senator John Kerry

Presidential candidate Senator John Kerry (D-MA) is one of the top three contenders in the race for democratic nominee, according to the recent Reuters/MSNBC/Zogby Iowa poll. His efforts as president would focus on people with disabilities, military occupancy in Iraq, and jobs and schools in America.

Kerry plans to help employment by creating 3 million jobs in his first 500 days in office. He also wants to increase school funds in order to reduce class sizes and rebuild crumbling schools. He plans to provide health insurance for every child in America. Kerry also wants to make college more affordable with programs such as "State Tax Relief and Education Fund" which would try to stop tuitions from rising and "Service for College" initiative would offer Americans the chance to earn the equivalent of their state's four-year public college tuition in exchange for two years of service.

Kerry was born on December 11, 1943 in Denver, Colorado. After graduating Yale University, Kerry served in the Navy during the Vietnam War. He received a Silver Star, Bronze Star with Combat V and three awards of the Purple Heart for his service in combat. Kerry then co-founded the Vietnam Veterans of America and worked as spokesperson for the Vietnam Veterans of America. Kerry then became the top prosecutor in Middlesex County and Lieutenant Governor in 1982.

Kerry has been elected four times to the US Senate since 1984. As senator he worked to reform public education, support the advancement of technology while preserving the environment, promote renewable energy sources and create better foreign relations.

Being married to Teresa Heinz Kerry, the chairman of The Howard Heinz Endowment and the Heinz Family Philanthropies, Kerry's campaign funding is not expected to be a problem.

He has two daughters and three stepsons.