Kerry donates $1 million to grass-roots campaign

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. John Kerry is contributing $1 million to the Democratic National Committee to support efforts by the next chairman, Howard Dean, in building grass-roots support for the party at the state level.

"Join me with a contribution of your own to show the incoming DNC chair that you want to support organizing in your own community," Kerry wrote in an e-mail to about 3 million supporters on his e-mail list.

"A new DNC chair will be elected at the end of this week," Kerry wrote of his onetime political rival. "Let's make sure he has everything he needs to start strong."

Kerry said Democrats need to have strong organizations at the state, local and precinct levels. Republicans were very effective at grassroots organizing in the last election.