There's at least one thing we already know about next year's presidential election: John Kerry won't be in it. But that hasn't stopped him from making moves that would land him a few black votes if he were in the race.

The election '04 loser from Massachusetts spoke out on the difficulty minority-owned businesses face in getting federal contracts and finding capital for their companies during a hearing on Capitol Hill this week, noting that minorities make up 32 percent of the US population but own only 18 percent of the businesses. He said the government needs to "do more to create opportunities for successful business growth and remove the barriers for minority entrepreneurs."

Kerry was stumping for a bill he introduced that would increase federal government aid to those companies and simplify the federal contracting process.