Kerry Still Hasn’t Paid Taxes on Yacht

It's been more than three months since we first told you about Capt. John Kerry's high-seas tax dodge on his new $7 million yacht, Isabel, and the town of Nantucket still doesn't have a check from the senior senator!

You may recall that Kerry lowered the flag and surrendered in July, agreeing to pony up more than $400,000 to cover state taxes on the toney tub. Mr. Teresa Heinz broke out the checkbook four days after the Track set off a furious tempest with our report that he had purchased the 76-foot floating palace and ported her in Rhode Island, thus depriving the commonwealth of its pound of flesh.

A spokesman for the state Department of Revenue confirmed that "a sales tax return was filed" by Kerry last summer to cover state taxes that would have been owed, had he kept the Isabel in his home state's waters. But according to the Nantucket tax collector, he never paid any excise taxes to the town on the Isabel.

Kerry's candidates see varied results

Senator John Kerry had a strong track record in his home state on Tuesday, but outside of Massachusetts the candidates that he supported lost more than they won.

Kerry had used his extensive fundraising network to raise money for candidates across the country, and he traveled to stump with several. Eight candidates he backed notched impressive victories – including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and Senator Barbara Boxer, of California – but in 10 senate races his candidates came up short. The losses included two incumbents -- Russ Feingold, of Wisconsin, and Blanche Lincoln, of Arkansas.

In several instances, the Bay State's two senators, both competitive sportsmen, went head-to-head in well-contested US Senate races. Senator Scott Brown's candidates came out on top in three of those races (Illinois, Pennsylvania, and New Hampshire), while Kerry's won in two (California and Connecticut).

Kerry fared better than Brown, though, in their home state. In Massachusetts, Kerry helped several congressional candidates -- Bill Keating, who ran in the 10th congressional district, and incumbents Niki Tsongas, Richard Neal, John Tierney, Barney Frank, and James McGovern – who all won. He also backed successful candidates Governor Deval Patrick, Attorney General Martha Coakley, Secretary of State William Galvin, Treasurer-elect Steve Grossman and state House Speaker Robert DeLeo. Two of Kerry’s Massachusetts candidates lost: state Representative Mark Falzone, and Dan Bosley, who was running for sheriff of Berkshire County but lost in the Democratic primary.

Here’s the list of Kerry's national candidates and the outcome on Tuesday:

WON

- Senator Harry Reid, of Nevada

- Senator Barbara Boxer, of California

- Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, of New York

- Senator Michael Bennet, of Colorado

- Senator Jeff Merkley, of Oregon

- Senator Chuck Schumer, of New York

- Senator-elect Richard Blumental, of Connecticut

- Senator-elect Chris Coons, of Delaware

LOST

- US Senator Russ Feingold, of Wisconsin

- US Senator Blanche Lincoln, of Arkansas

- US Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias of Illinois

- US Senate candidate Paul Hodes of New Hampshire

- US Senate candidate Kendrick Meek, of Florida

- US Senate candidate Joe Sestak, of Pennsylvania

- US Senate candidate Jack Conway, of Kentucky

- US Senate candidate Charles Melancon, of Louisiana

- US Senate candidate Robin Carnahan, of Missouri

- US Senate candidate Lee Fisher, of Ohio

- US Representative Scott Murphy, of New York’s 20th Congressional District

- Congressional candidate Ann McLane Kuster, of New Hampshire

UNDECIDED

- US Senator Patty Murray, of Washington state

(source:boston.com)