Newsview: Focus Shifts From Kerry to Bush

[CatWoman]

WASHINGTON - With the spotlight on his candidacy, John Kerry (news - web sites) improved public perception of his character and qualifications but failed to shake-up the presidential race. Now, the focus shifts to President Bush (news - web sites) — and all his hurdles to re-election.

The Iraq (news - web sites) war, which most voters think was a mistake.

The economy, which most voters don't trust with the Republican.

The direction of the country, which most voters think is headed south.

The tough job of changing those perceptions began the moment Kerry left his nominating convention. While in Boston, a heavy emphasis on the Democrat's sterling war record impressed male voters, according to an Associated Press poll, improving his ratings on honesty, intelligence, likability and even Bush's strongest issue — the ability to protect the country.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=694&ncid=703&e=1&u=/ap/20040808/ap_on_el_pr/campaign_the_pivot

[mzmolly]

1. Well, we can expect some Kerry bashing and more terror alerts. Get this ~

Bush and his political team contend that Kerry made two mistakes at his convention, and they vow not to repeat them.


_ Kerry and his surrogates didn't criticize Bush enough.


_ There was relatively little talk about Kerry's policies, though the Democrat has enough proposals to literally fill a book.


Bush and his allies won't be shy about going negative against Kerry during their Aug. 30-Sept. 2 convention, White House advisers said. The president also will outline a second-term agenda, including some new initiatives that will be rolled out before, during or after the New York convention.


Bush hopes to rally Republicans with tough-on-terrorism talk and images designed to rekindle memories of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, when his response sent his approval ratings soaring.


His advisers say the tactic also will peel away some of the swing voters who moved to Kerry in July and tend to be influenced by the latest big event, such as a nominating convention or terror alerts. Men tend to favor Bush over Kerry, thus the president could win back some of those voters.

PREPARE FOR THE PERPETUAL RED ALERT! ~ with intermittent Kerry bashing and milking of a national tragedy. :eyes:

Gods help us if this schmuck is elected again.

[Downtown Hound]

2. Yep, 9-11, terrorism, 9-11, terrorism

that's really all they have. It all comes down to that moment when Bush stood up over ground zero with a bullhorn. Remember 9-11, vote for me!

There's another thing I do remember, and that is Bush's father. He staked his reelection on the Persian Gulf War. Persian Gulf! Persian Gulf! He kept shouting. And he lost. So will his loser son.

[mzmolly]

3. Hope your right.

:hi:

[Kierkegaard]

5. Not a bad prognosis

Stub "...won't be shy about going negative..." and "...hopes to rally Republicans with tough-on-terrorism talk..." and will engage in furious back-peddles on previously failed policy. But, if he continues to verbally self-destruct in public the way he has for the last week or so, he's doomed.

His safetly net has pretty much disintigrated. People are too skeptical of his motives and playing the Terra card whenever he gets backed into a corner(which is likely to happen pretty often over the next 3 months) ain't going to get it done IMHO. His bumbling idiocy continues to erode his credibility and shows no sign of improvement at a time when you might think he would at least try to look somewhat Presidential. I have an inkling that people are generally sick to death of this little weasel.

speaking of which: Bush?

[mzmolly]

7. I'd love to watch him self destruct.

:evilgrin:

:hi: Welcome to DU!

[Kierkegaard]

8. Thanks, mzmolly

I think you have a pretty fair chance of getting your wish!

[Massacure]

9. Bush Snr pretty much imploded trying to smear Clinton didn't he?

[napi21]

4. It will backfire. Kerry should keep campaign positive, and let

surrogate 527's beat up the shrub! It doesn't seem to matter that some supporters of each candidate do the slaming. It does matter what the candidates themselves say.

Shrub is looking pretty bad in teh videos of his speeches. If he starts getting nasty, he'll only keep the support of his neo-con friends!

[opihimoimoi]

6. Yup, and Kerrys Biz Plan for America is far better than Bushies

who has no plan but is reduced to guessing in the most expedient manner...

Bush has nothing to offer....not even security as he and Condi/Rummy blew it by not warning America of the Clear and Present Dangers. They slept at the watch tower of Fort America...and the ticks and fleas snuck in easily....