Reply #76: Not commanding...

[Clarkie1]

In my opinion, people thought he was the safest choice. A war veteran (people put more stock into that than it was worth, because being a Vietnam Vet did not help his National Security or "tough on terrorism" image at all), and an experienced politician with a record of winning senate races (albeit in a very blue state).

I think some Primary voters may have seen him as kind of the elder Democratic statesman in the primaries, and perhaps that is a kind of way of being "commanding." But it's a kind of commanding based on experience and recognition, not force of character.

Edit: As for the debates, Kerry excelled in them and won them, but it was not enough to overcome an image of someone who was more a debater and an orator than a commanding leader, imo.