[img_assist|nid=427|title=U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-Boston) campaigning in Framingham|desc=Politicker Photo|link=none|align=left|width=402|height=317]FRAMINGHAM - In the latest of his "Kerry on your corner" events, U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-Boston) made a campaign stop in Framingham Monday.

The four-term senator is currently facing both primary and general election challenges this year. Ed O'Reilly, a Gloucester attorney, is running against Kerry in the September primary and Republican Jeff Beatty, a former Army, CIA and FBI officer, will be running for Kerry's office in November. Polling in the primary race is so far unavailable, but the most recent polling shows Kerry holding a sizable lead in his general election race.

Kerry kicked off the Framingham tour at the local Dunkin' Donuts. Kerry arrived roughly 30 minutes after the event was to begin, but his supporters waited for him and several greeted him as he stepped out of his car. Approximately 100 supporters awaited him inside the donut shop and gave him a loud round of applause when he entered.

Many in the crowd wore a collage of campaign stickers; almost all wore Kerry stickers, and many complimented those with U.S. Sen. Barack Obama's (D-Ill.) campaign stickers. Others wore stickers for state Sen. Pam Richardson's (D-Framingham) reelection campaign and another group wore stickers in support of Dawn Harkness, who is challenging Richardson in this year's primary. Both Harkness and Richardson attended the event. [img_assist|nid=428|title=U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-Boston) campaigning in Framingham|desc=Politicker Photo|link=none|align=left|width=398|height=317]

The senator made his way through the crowd, shaking as many hands and signing as many autographs as possible before hopping atop a chair to address the crowd. Kerry kicked off his remarks with a crowd pleaser. "I have really important and exciting news, there are only 107 more days of George W. Bush," he said referring to the number of days until the presidential election in November.

Kerry, the 2004 Democratic nominee, went on to say how crucial this election is to the future of the country. "Every major issue of importance," he said, "is at stake in this year's election." While winning the presidential race is important, he said, it is also critical that the Democrats pick up seats in the Senate and the House of Representatives.

He has never seen Washington, D.C., as stagnant as it is now, Kerry said, and the Democrats "need 60 votes to move anything in the Senate," referring to the veto-proof threshold. Kerry predicted that the Democrats would pick up "five to seven, maybe eight" seats in the Senate and more in the House.

But winning the presidency, he said, is of utmost importance.

"We need to get to get the presidency so we can set the agenda of this country," he said. Kerry went on to talk about that agenda. "People need and deserve affordable health care," he said, "and in the richest country on the planet, we can afford to do it."

From atop the chair, Kerry spoke emphatically and quickly, using his hands to emphasize his statements. The crowd was silent listening to him as he hammered home his points. If the Democrats succeed in November, he said, there will be the first "progressive, thoughtful and intelligent legislating since Lyndon Johnson was president."

Kerry also said that the Democrats would restore the United States to its position as a global superpower and repair its damaged reputation around the world.

Kerry took a few questions from the crowd, the majority of which focused on the country's energy crisis. The senator, who is known for his work on energy and global warming, said the renewable energy source most available to help consumers now is solar energy.

He was also asked if "there was a shot" troops would be coming home from Iraq soon. "More than a shot," Kerry immediately responded. "The fact is that the United States cannot sustain the current troop levels" being deployed in Iraq.

Kerry then left the Dunkin' Donuts and began a walking tour of the local businesses in downtown Framingham. He went from the Framingham Sub and Pizza Shop to the Asinayo Asian Grocery to the Padaria Brazilian Bakery, greeting the workers at each stop. He then swung into the Framingham Town Hall and finished his stop at the Framingham Police Headquarters.