Flashback to the Primaries

[kentuck]

The big debate amongst Democrats was what type of candidate could best compete with an incumbent that we knew was going to run on his handling of the war. In the end, most Democratic voters in the primaries chose John Kerry as the best man to run against those perceived strengths of George Bush. In fact, John Kerry's greatest strength was the fact that he was a war hero, winner of the Silver Star for valor. In the end, he vanquished all his primary opponents.

The Republican strategy was to attack John Kerry's strengths. They did so with the SwiftBoat ads. And it is obvious now that they did hurt Kerry. Before the ads, he was ahead in most of the national polls, for what it's worth.

But we have not yet challenged Bush's "strengths". What are those strengths? He is a perceived strong leader. How do we attack that? He will keep America safer. How do you attack that? He is better at fighting the war on terrorism. How do you counter that?

To challenge your opponents strengths, you cannot half-way agree with any of them, otherwise it is not to your advantage. You must disagree with his positions, sometimes passionately. You must draw a distinction for the voters. Or else you are surrendering his positions to him and are content to run on other issues. If your issues do not carry the weight of your opponents in the voters estimation, they will not vote for you. That is where we are today.

[newsguyatl]

1. from the moment

kerry announced his presidency against the backdrop of an aircraft carrier in sc, i sensed we might have eventual problems (ie, kerry letting bush set the parameters) instead of defining them himself.

we have just 50 some odd days left. i hope he'll do us proud.

[kentuck]

2. He will, I am sure.

Some of us are just getting a little impatient. Is it enough to say we need to unite this country? Is it enough to point out that Bush and Cheney are practicing tired, worn-out negative politics and people are tired of it?

[ogradda]

3. religion

get him on that somehow. that would kill him with a lot of people

[kentuck]

4. Catch him using the "F" word on tape...

That would hurt him with the "born-agains"...