Kerry runs 14 to 18 points behind Clinton and four to seven points ahead of Edwards, three polls show.

Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) is using a database of contact information for about 3 million voters that he compiled during his presidential campaign to position himself for another White House run in 2008.

Democratic insiders say that Kerry’s unprecedented direct access to so many current and onetime supporters is a huge advantage heading into the next Democratic presidential primary. But his greatest strength, the experience of winning his party’s nomination last year, is also his greatest weakness, as many former supporters became disillusioned by his loss to President Bush and now blame him for losing a race they believe should have been won.

Kerry has drawn criticism from many Democrats who say he did not have a clear, compelling message during his campaign and had difficulty connecting with voters.

But no other Democrat considered a White House hopeful, not even Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), who is the early favorite to win the nomination, possesses as large a list of potential donors and supporters. Only the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and MoveOn.org can boast of contact lists as large, say Democrats familiar with Kerry’s database.

In a hypothetical Democratic primary pitting Kerry against Clinton and former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) — the three candidates whom Democrats and Democratic-leaning voters deem the most promising White House candidates — Kerry runs 14 to 18 points behind Clinton and four to seven points ahead of Edwards, three polls show.

The political team Kerry has hired to staff his new leadership political action committee, Keeping America’s Promise, indicates that he is gearing up for just such a showdown.

(5-4-05, The Hill.)