That's because her husband's campaign wants it that way.

The independent-minded and oft-outspoken Teresa tells USA Today she is heeding the advice of her hubby's campaign strategists and subordinating herself to their wishes by keeping a lower profile.

Campaign watchers also have noticed the change.

"Teresa has disappeared, by and large," says Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, a public policy analyst at the University of Southern California.

No more outbursts like her "shove it" comment to a Pittburgh Tribune-Review editor or her calling John’s opponents "scumbags."

We’ll also miss other Teresa quotes, such as her saying that Caribbean hurricane relief organizers were packing too many clothes and not enough food and other supplies; "Clothing is wonderful,” she said, "but let them go naked for a while, at least the kids.”

No comments at least for the moment suits the Kerry campaign just fine, because without some modicum of control, the wife of the junior Massachusetts senator tends to speak before thinking.

"Every time they let her out, she says something that they don't like," Jeffe says.

The decision to hide Mrs. Kerry – who likes to call herself "Mama T." – parallels a similar decision in 1992 and 1996 when Hillary Clinton went missing just before those campaign showdowns.

Apparently, getting Mama T. to agree to keep a low profile has been more difficult.

One reason is that she has been paying John’s bills for so long – as one of America's 400 richest persons – she may have had more leverage than Hillary.

Mrs. Heinz Kerry makes clear she is not involved in campaign decision-making.

"I don't even meet with them. I don't go to the strategy meetings. I've only been in the campaign headquarters three or four times. Unless I am running something and I assume the responsibility, I just do what I have to do," she told the paper.

In all, she's at her husband's side in less than 10 percent of his appearances, is introducing him less than before the Democratic convention, and is taking a back seat to local officials in making live appearances on the campaign trail.

Editor's note: