Several House Dems won't back Kerry

WASHINGTON, March 17 (UPI) -- Several House Democrats who appear vulnerable in the November election don't plan to endorse U.S. presidential nominee John Kerry, The Hill newspaper reports.

The five lawmakers identified by The Hill in a story Wednesday are Reps. Rodney Alexander, D-La.; Allen Boyd, D-Fla.; Jim Marshall, D-Ga.; Jim Matheson, D-Utah; and Dennis Moore, D-Kan.

Bob Matsui, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said vulnerable congressmen will be given flexibility in how closely they connect their campaigns to the Massachusetts senator's. The five congressmen come from a group of 17 "frontliners" chosen by Democratic Party leadership for member-to-member cash infusions, The Hill said, the majority of whom plan to campaign with and for Kerry.

Alexander has said he does not intend to endorse any candidate; Moore said he is leaning against endorsing Kerry; Boyd said he's undecided about whether to endorse Kerry, and Marshall and Matheson said they had no intention of endorsing him.

The lawmakers' reluctance "reflects varying levels of comfort with how the New England senator will play in their districts," the newspaper said.