Should Kerry be diverted by Bush's attacks? Bill Clinton told him no.

[bigtree]

Bill Clinton, who is probably the best political strategist in the Democratic Party, tells friends that John Kerry should set two goals for his acceptance speech tonight — more clearly explain who is really is and give more detail on exactly how his policies would differ from George W. Bush's. The former president thinks the campaign so far has been too general and based mostly on rhetoric, his confidants tell U.S. News and the Bulletin.

He tells friends that Americans don't have enough information about Kerry — an assessment which is backed by recent polls. But he adds that just presenting a compelling biography won't be enough, that Kerry needs to spell out with much more clarity how his views on education, tax cuts, the environment, law enforcement, health care, fighting terrorism, winning the war in Iraq, and other issues offer voters a very stark choice in November. Clinton warns that if Kerry doesn't start clarifying those differences, Bush will set a fall agenda based on creating fear that Kerry is too weak to be commander in chief.

Clinton's advice, which has been passed on to Kerry through intermediaries: Don't get diverted by what's in the news media each day; just set your plan and stick to it. An added cautionary note is that Clinton believes Bush can be a very effective campaigner, and he isn't sure Democrats take candidate Bush as seriously as he deserves.

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/politics/bulletin/archive/bull040729n.htm

[mom cat]

1. Clinton tells Kerry to "more clearly explain who is really is "????

Freudian typo. LOL!!!!:evilgrin:
Otherwise a very good analysis. Thanks for posting this. Please do not take offense at my good natured rib...

[Dover]

3. Lol!

I suppose it depends on who 'is..IS'

[bigtree]

6. That's a pretty funny typo

<tension draining away>

[mom cat]

7. You could change it and repost or leave it as is for humor,

:yourock:

[JI7]

2. he is RIGHT , if Kerry followed big news media he would have

dropped out during the primaries rather than keep going around speaking with voters. word of mouth resulted in increasing turnout at his events.

this doesn't mean one should totally ignore the polls, but it's never good to be reactionary to every single poll that comes out. especially since the campaign has internal polls which has much more info and which show longer term trends which help to know where kerry should focus.

[napi21]

4. I agree, Bill is the best advisor Kerry can find.

I think I've seen Kerry doing some of this both in the convention speech and after. I question being too specific right now though. I think you just might see shrub snag some of those ideas and put them in place (as President) just to take a "difference" away from Kerry.

I thought that same thing when Kerry was being hammered about HOW his was going to do better in Iraq...just what is his plan? I wouldn't give it out either!

[Feanorcurufinwe]

5. As if Bill Clinton knows anything about winning Presidential elections...

oh, wait...

[chuck555]

8. Kerry is doing fine!

5,000 miles,barrels of good ink and fawning TV. Read all about it here:

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/9395057.htm

[bigtree]

9. This is where it matters. In a state we need to win.

Local coverage. Priceless.

[Democat]

10. Clinton told Kerry he must go after the right wing every time they attack

Did you see Clinton on the Daily Show?

He said that you must punish the right wing every time they attack you. He said that if you don't, they will just keep attacking you. The way to stop them is to hit them back twice as hard every time they hit you.

Kerry has not made Bush pay for the Swift Boat Liars ads.

Clinton would make him pay.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

12. You must have seen a different show than me.

Because on the show I watched, Clinton didn't say any of those things.

[Still_Loves_John]

11. Thank you

So many people here think that Kerry should respond to every little Bush attack that they hear on CNN, but the truth is that responding to a petty little jab just elevates it and gives it credibility. If Kerry doesn't respond, it's in and out of the news cycle, and everyone forgets about it. If Kerry does respond, it becomes a campaign issue and gets tons of coverage, and is going to be treated as more of a legitimate attack.

And honestly, I think it's silly when people here act like they know more than the Kerry campaign. The man knows what he's doing--have a little faith in him.