Do you think Kerry is running a better race than Gore, Dukakis & Mondale?

[fujiyama]

Also do you know how he's doing compared to Gore in state polls at this point?

I know it really doesn't matter because the dynamics of this race are completely different and with Bush in office already and him strengthening his grip on power, we know he'll try all sorts of crazy things to win (including cheating, rigging, and stealing).

Still it might be interesting to see the differences. Were the states that were considered battlegrounds showing different results?

My own guess, is that I think Kerry is stronger than Gore was in a few states like PA, WA, OR, OH, WV, and MI. I'm not sure about other states though. Many are still very close. What about Florida? Kerry seems to have a lead there (at least shown by two reputable polls)...

Any differences? Obviously Kerry can't rely on Gore's map to win because of the census, but at the minimum he needs to win all the Gore states. At this point IA, WI, and to a lesser extent, MN worry me because of the close margins in the last election.

What about the rapid response? I don't really remember how it went, though I see the media doing similar things they did to Gore..For him it was the "I invented the internet", Love Story, and later such things as a lullaby...For Kerry it's the "flip flop", "sensitive war", and ass hole swift boats.

In spite of all that he still won the popular vote. That's why I'm not worried the popular vote. Bush hasn't gained too many voters. Kerry would have - people that didn't vote before, ex Naderites, and pissed off republicans and conservatives.

As we know though, the popular vote doesn't matter...It's all about winning key states.

[Seabiscuit]

1. Yes, but

not much better than Gore was in 2000. I'd love to see the new gutsy Gore take on the new thoroughly discredited Bush.

[michigandem2]

4. yeah where was THAT guy in 2000

if he acted the way he did at the democratic convention..i think it would of been exciting...

BUT then again...it was a different time...is he going to campaign for Kerry?

[Seabiscuit]

9. You betcha

Gore's campaigning for Kerry. He's given some of the most forceful, fiery speeches attacking Bushco in 2004.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. Kerry would benefit from examining the playbook of Adlai Stevenson

in 1952 & 1956. In theory, he should have handily beat Eisenhower, but Stevenson didn't look at the big picture, ignored the American public's fears and interests, and fell into many traps that the republicans set for him. In short, he let himself lose. Kerry must be a fighter, no matter what the setting. And he needs to be seen as likeable, more than *.

[charlie105]

3. Fortunately, he doesn't have to. He can play very mediocre ball and

Bush will do the rest for him.

[WI_DEM]

5. Dukakis for sure

He ran a miserable campaign. Mondale actually ran a good campaign but people think because he lost it must have been failure. But no democrat was going to beat Ronald Reagan in 1984. I thought Gore ran an ok campaign especially towards the end. He got one of his biggest crowds in late October here in Madison, Wi with a strong progressive speech. I think Gore should have been more like the Gore of today. Kerry is doing ok, but I wish he were a bit more aggressive in challenging the Bush campaigns attacks on him.

[mbee]

6. Since we'll never know the real number of votes Gore received I don't

know how we could compare the two vote counts. Has anyone here ever thought that Democrats didn't fight for Gore because he had a Jewish running mate? This is something that has bothered me for a long time.
If that is the case our country is an even bigger disappointment that I thought it was. It just seems strange the way no one spoke up in the Democratic leadership the way I think they should have.

[dennis4868]

7. Maybe....

I am in the minority here but I thought Gore ran a pretty good campaign...yes, I know he lost his home state...that sucks....but apart from that he did real well considering the so-called liberal media did everything they could to destroy him on such trivial non-issues...It is hard to believe that 4 years ago Gore was bashed by the mainstreem media for saying something he did not say (inventing the internet). And today we have a pResident who lies us into a war that has cost this country billions of dollars and 1000 lives of US soldiers, and Bush is not getting bashed day after day for it by the same media.

Lets see:

lying bout thew internet = trivial, no deaths, and does not affect anyone.

Lying to get us into a war = thousands upon thousadnds of deaths, the whole world hates us, record deficits, etc...

And the media gets more angered over the internet story.....we are living in some very unusual times my friends!

[troublemaker]

8. To date this is the best non-Clinton Dem campaign since Johnson

(Carter's '76 campaign was rotten. He won only because of Watergate, and Ford almost pulled it out)