Kerry: Teresa Will Decide on Role as First Lady

Democratic presidential front-runner John F. Kerry said Saturday that his wife, ketchup and pickle heiress Teresa Thierstein Simoes-Ferreira Heinz-Kerry, can carve out whatever position she wants as America's next first lady.

Asked what role his wife would play in his administration, Kerry told an Oklahoma City audience, "If you know my wife, whatever role she wants to play."

Kerry immediately qualified the comment, telling the crowd: "I'm joking about that. The national press will take that and run away with it."

"Let's be very clear," the top Democrat said in suddenly serious tones. "My wife is not wanting to be a policy adviser. She doesn't want to [have] a job. She wants to be like many first ladies who have embraced a set of challenges."

The Massachusetts Democrat said his wife would likely end up championing causes like women's health issues and children's issues.

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