Simon Rosenberg is president and founder of the New Democrat Network, a center-left political organization based in Washington.

VOA: standard.2009.10.23

Jill Cooper is married to Tom Udall, a Democrat from New Mexico who entered the Senate this past January.

VOA: special.2009.12.28

President Tyler named John C. Calhoun - a Democrat - as his new secretary of state.

VOA: special.2009.02.05

Bill Clinton offered Democrats just such a debate in 1992 with his "New Democrat" ideas.

CNN: Hillary Clinton, a mistake for 2016

The two-term governor has been described as a "new Democrat" for his centrist views.

CNN: AllPolitics - An Overshadowed Keynoter

Of course, personal ties do not necessarily make Mr Kerry a fully-paid-up New Democrat like Bill Clinton.

ECONOMIST: Can John Kerry make himself look more moderate?