WP: Kerry Acting Out of Necessity In Tackling the Terrorism Issue

[kskiska]

For much of the past three years, Democrats typically have preferred to change the subject -- to the economy, to education, to virtually anything -- than try to battle President Bush over his handling of terrorism. Consistently, polls have shown a majority of the public believes that the president has been attentive and steadfast on this issue.

This history makes John F. Kerry's strategy a striking departure, as the Democratic presidential nominee has begun a full-throated campaign not to change the subject, but to win the argument.

(snip)

A variety of polls and public opinion analysts make it clear that the Democrat faces an uphill climb with this argument. But some strategists in both parties said that Kerry is hardly waging a war of choice: The latest warnings underscored how much the balance of the presidential campaign will be shaped by outside events and hovering public anxiety over a potential terrorist attack. Kerry, they said, must prove himself credible on an issue that could shadow the next three months -- even if he might prefer the race be dominated by jobs or some other blue-chip Democratic issue.

(snip)

Peter D. Feaver, a political scientist at Duke University who studies national security and public opinion, said he believes Bush probably remains "in the driver's seat" on terrorism. If there is a terrorism incident before the election, he said, there would probably be a "rally around the flag" impact that would favor any incumbent, so long as the administration was not seen as politicizing the incident, as occurred in Spain after a pre-election terrorist attack in the spring.

A Kerry adviser, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, said the campaign has discussed at length what would happen in the event of an attack and reached a conclusion similar to Feaver's, with any effect being strongest the closer to Election Day. But this adviser said campaign officials have concluded there is little that can be done to anticipate such an effect or counteract it.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A35372-2004Aug2.html