Kerry says he mishandled furor over yacht taxes

BOSTON (AP) - Sen. John Kerry says he always intended to pay taxes in Massachusetts on his $7 million yacht but concedes he mishandled the public furor over his decision to dock the vessel in tax-free Rhode Island.

Kerry tells The Boston Globe that he doesn't believe he dealt with the issue quickly enough or effectively enough. He added that he did nothing legally wrong.

The Democrat moved to end the controversy this week by saying he would write Massachusetts a check for about $500,000, whether he owed the money or not. He told The Associated Press that he and his wife "have always complied with tax laws."

The 2004 Democratic presidential nominee had been dogged by charges of tax evasion since the Boston Herald first reported his decision to dock the yacht in Rhode Island.