Kerry should stay positive.

[ncteechur]

As we all know, the race is basically tied with each having secured a fairly equally sized base. I believe that most everyone in the country has seen the negative advertising of Bush but I don't think the negative ads will ultimately cause anyone to vote for Bush over Kerry. I believe that what the undecided voters want is an alternative to bush. Kerry doesn't need to be negative. He needs to continue to lay out an agenda that is an alternative to four more years. He needs to begin giving the undecided and Nader people reasons to vote for him and not against bush or nader. Undecided and independent voters will wait until the last couple of weeks to make up their minds. The debates will play a HUGE role in their decision making process. The negative ads are simply for the base. Let moveon or other 527s play up the negatives. Kerry and the DNC needs to lay out the agenda for a Kerry administration.

Let Bush go negative if he wants--I think it will hurt him toward the election. What the polls need to do to be effective is to survey voters who have not made up their minds yet.

[mchill]

1. I totally agree, but

it is hard to resist criticizing this horrible administration. I've come to believe that Bush supporters are either rich, uninformed, war mongers or bigots. They've made up their minds...the swing vote will want to hear truth, not sound bites, optimism, not negativivity, on balance. The rest of us need to work hard and inform people. Personally, I have convinced 3 people to vote this year, that normally wouldn't, and I believe they will vote for Kerry. Show up to rallys and show Kerry support (people love popular people). Volunteer.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

2. It's a choice between hope and fear

[LondonAmerican]

3. I disagree

Kerry needs to make a clear differentiation between himself and Bush and he needs to call Bush on a number of things, the illegal Iraq war being the first and foremost.

[henslee]

4. Amen, brother. go treat yourself to some bangers and mash.

First off, JK going neg. is not the same as the distortions and half truths that are now being dished out wholesale by this chorus of sleazebags. JK going neg. would be based on hard truths.

I am amazed at how so many can issue such blanket rules of conduct for JK as DONT GO NEG. Just like in a prize fight or a basketball game, you do what the situation calls for. You conduct yourself on a case by case, situation by situation basis. Do whatever is called for at the time.

KEEP THE OPPOSTION OFF BALANCE IS THE #1 GOAL.

[BillZBubb]

5. You are totally wrong on negative advertising.

It is NOT primarily for the base. They are already true believers. It is for the undecideds. The idea is that maybe they don't like me (the advertiser), but I'll make them like my opponent even less. That way they either vote for me as the lesser of two evils or they don't vote.

And negative advertising has never cost the advertiser an election. Remember Willie Horton? That negative ad killed Dukakis. Or ask McCain about his positive message in the South Carolina primary, where Bush*s negative ads just killed him.

People claim not to like negative ads, but they don't vote against anyone because they ran them. They do remember the charges made. If Kerry doesn't respond in kind, he's finished.

[LisaL]

6. Exactly

Exactly.
Negative adds work.
Nobody is saying Kerry should lie about Bush in negative adds, but why not tell the truth?

[henslee]

7. Hey Ambushed, great minds think alike.....

(my post from yest.)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=618583&mesg_id=618928

[shindig]

8. I agree...

but why get "walked on" during television? The surrogates show up for the debate, so why not debate more smartly?

Kerry has been having a new TV surrogate on lately. Her name is Dr. Rice. (Not be confused with Condoleeza, this Rice is waaaaaaaaaaaay more enjoyable to watch.)

She's EXCELLENT! She's making smart points. She doesn't back down. She attempts to keep the questioner honest. She explains WHY something Bush or Cheney said is ridiculous, pathetic, or dishonest.

The McMahons and Cohelos, etc, should watch Ms. Rice and model her.

This post is not about panicking or whining. I'm on John Kerry's side. I'm not trying to burst bubbles. But I know how powerful the national media is. If they succeed at turning Kerry into some kind of "loser" or "cartoon character," it's going to hurt us.

It's not panicking or whining to simply state the truth, that is we are getting our ass kicked in the media right now. And what can we do to change it? And there's no reason for it. You don't have to be negative to stand up and fight the distortion.

Watch how Ms. Rice fights the Blitzers and the Asmans. I wish Kerry would issue a campaign order that all his tv peeps watch her to make better points. And if they can't, just like he replaced the team during the primaries, he might consider the same, at least with regards to who speaks for him on TV.

Oh, just remembered. Another good debater is surrogate Jamal, I believe is name is. Sorry, can't remember his last name. He also kicks ass. The old-time guys, McMahon, Cohelo, most of them. They are terrible. They just repeat our lame soundbites. Hello? Not Working! Kerry needs help on national TV, big time!