"He is not making an endorsement in this campaign until a nominee emerges from the process," Mr. Kennedy wrote.

He said he thought the nominee would emerge from the existing field of candidates, through the primary process.

It would have been smart strategy to go back on the offensive once the Democratic nominee emerged, but with these other things happening, the sooner the better.

Several Democrats across the country have predicted a nominee could emerge after a crucial round of primaries on March 2.

Democratic strategists fear that their nominee will emerge from the nine-way race in the spring out of money and vulnerable to attacks by the Bush campaign.

That meant that differences between liberals and conservatives were front and center until the nominees emerged.

He said he was confident a nominee would emerge by late March.

That support is expected to grow in coming weeks as Democratic backers, many of whom remained neutral until a nominee emerged, begin to wade into the race.

Democrats fear their nominee will emerge in late March from the peak presidential primary season battered, bruised and broke.

Instead, the nominee will emerge as the winner of the primary.