Kerry does not have to go "negative" but he can still attack Bush....

[kentuck]

How can he attack Bush and not be seen as going "negative", you ask?
First of all, he can point out that George W Bush has already spent almost $100 million dollars on negative ads and he has spent none. Then he can remind people that he will not sit by and let George W Bush distort or lie about his record. Self-defense will not be seen as "negative" if it is pointed out what the specific purpose of the ads might be.

George W Bush has already staked his claim as a "negative" campaigner. Kerry should remind people of this fact at every opportunity and attack in kind at those times. His responses should not and will not be seen as "negative".

[daveskilt]

1. kerry has plenty of negative proxies

moveon, act etc.

these guys can take the heat and kerry can still be a clean campaigner ...even though negative works

[kentuck]

3. Sometimes proxies are not enough....

Especially when your opponent is attacking you personally. Kerry can preface his remarks about Bush's "negative" ads and respond to any charges he wishes without being charged as going negative.

[yardwork]

2. Kerry needs to correct the record in a vigorous response

One thing that buried Al Gore was that his campaign never figured out an effective response to the avalanche of negative rumors and flat out lies spun by Rove and Co.

Kerry is off to a good start by laughing at BushCo. He laughed about the itty bitty talking points and how negative and pitiful their campaign has been so far.

[readmylips]

4. I don't want Kerry negative....but

I love when Kerry laughs at the little guy...repigs hate humor against them. Kerry can use humor to show just how stupid bush is whithout even using his name. Laugh Kerry, Laugh...

[meow2u3]

5. Kerry just doesn't have to name names

We the People all know who he's talking about. The American people know a fraud when we see one--eventually.

Kerry seems to be using the strategy of "Fool us once, shame on you; fool us twice, shame on US"

[Jim__]

6. Responding to bush's ads is playing on bush's turf

Kerry should make the record clear. He should talk about his Senate votes; but, my guess is that many of these were chock full of little goodies and Kerry can claim bush supported the most onerous of these.

Kerry probably has to make some type of response; but that should be a minor part of his campaign.