Ken Bazinet and Helen Kennedy in the NY Daily News:

Kerry, who could no longer run on electability, would have faced a crowded field that includes Sen. Hillary Clinton, Sen. Barack Obama and ex-running mate John Edwards.His decision frees up Boston's rich donors, core primary state supporters and several talented staff members.

"His fund-raisers will likely go to Obama. If he had any Clinton fund-raisers, they would have for sure already switched to her by now," said a Kerry 2004 strategist. "They will not go to Edwards. Many were not left with a good feeling about Edwards."