Kerry suspends campaigning for Reagan mourning
Democrat pays tribute to late president
BOSTON, Massachusetts (CNN) -- Sen. John Kerry said Sunday he will cancel his "overtly political" public events this week in observance of the death of former President Reagan, whom the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee praised for his confident leadership.
"He had a way of making people feel as if the next day would be better," Kerry said.
Reagan, a two-term Republican president, died Saturday at age 93 after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease.
"We're going to suspend any sort of overtly political rallies, events like that," Kerry said
Tributes to Reagan poured in from throughout the world as the former president was remembered for his work in ending the Cold War and his ability to inspire confidence and pride in many Americans.
Reagan's body will lie in state in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol this week before being returned to California for a private funeral at his presidential library.
Kerry was elected to the Senate in 1984, the same year Reagan won a second term.
"Ronald Reagan and many of us disagreed on one issue or another, but he always disagreed with a smile, without partisanship," Kerry said. "He always put America first."
He said Reagan led "with great grace," and he expressed his condolences to Reagan's widow, former first lady Nancy Reagan.
