Susan Collins just came out with a giant load of bullshit after talking to Susan Rice.

[karynnj]

5. Republicans in the Senate respecting Kerry is nothing new

He has worked often with Snowe and Collins very pleasantly. He impressed Graham when they worked on climate change - especially when Kerry was willing to call T bone Pickens because it would help the bill. McCain has long respected Kerry and in 2000 mentioned him as someone on the left he listened to on foreign policy. Many Republicans used superlatives to describe his masterful leadership on the START treaty. Corker praised him on that and on his work getting Kharzi to follow his country's election law. Lugar has always praised Kerry - as did former Senator John Warner.

The fact is that they would love the seat to be up - and likely even more that the Senate lose one of its best most persuasive Democratic voices. But, in spite of Kerry having been the Democratic nominee and a strong partisan voice in many elections, there is real respect for him as a person. Rice they don't know.