What are the types of swing voters and do we get them to swing left

[Onlooker]

I know five swing voters quite well.

(1) Voter 1 is a very rich, Connecticut Republican, which means he's liberal on social issues, but conservative on everything else. The main reason he will vote for Bush is because he supports the war on Iraq.

The only way this man will vote for Kerry is if Kerry gives him something new or if Kerry plays up his endorsements from people like Lee Iacoca and other prominent capitalists.

(2) Voter 2 is a conservative Independent, and is paying close attention to the race. For him, honesty is the most important thing.

He is voting for Kerry because he thinks the Bush campaign has been too dishonest. The Kerry campaign won his vote with their much criticized passive strategy.

(3) Voter 3 I would call a Republican Independent. His opposition to Kerry seems to be more based on Swift Boat Vets ads and other lies. He is constantly looking for reasons to oppose Kerry, even though in his heart he probably agrees more with Kerry. In the last election, he decided to vote for Bush while in the polling booth.

It will be hard for Kerry to win his vote. Bush can attack Kerry unfairly, but Kerry can't do that. Kerry's best chance to win his vote is to appeal very directly to him about retirement. He's one of these computer guys who lost a lot of his retirement money in the stock market.

(4) Voter 4 is leaning toward Nader because Kerry is too pro war.

I think the community of progressives in which Voter 4 hangs out will ultimately sway her into Kerry's column. I do think Kerry's attacks on Halliburton are effective with this group.

(5) Voter 5 is a politically uninvolved liberal, but she's so afraid of terrorism, she believes we have to stay the course.

Kerry's tough talk on terror is probably the best shot Kerry has with this kind of voter.

****

Do you have any thoughts on how to win those types of voters and what other types of Swing voters are there?

[Toronto Ron]

1. I see two keys, briefly:

(1) At the first debate Kerry must clearly affirm how he has not flip-flopped on Iraq.

(2) Hammer away at b*sh. So many negatives there.

[wildeyed]

2. #5

I know one like that. He father is very conservative, too, so she has secret repub DNA, even though outwardly she seems liberal. I have been appealing to her with FACTS. I email articles from legit news sources on how Bush's rush to war in Iraq has actually made us less safe. #1 might respond to this tactic, too.

I have found that every swing voter has 'levers'. Often it is religion. I send anti-war christian info to my christian friends. I know a young evangelical anti-war christian who is tight with her community. I forward to her, she forwards to her friends and family. Last I heard, she was very pleased with her progress.

I have another friend who has a feeling of solidarity with the jewish community. Her grandmother was jewish, but she knows little about the religion or culture. She actually thought that jews were mainly repugs or something. I sent her an article saying that 80% of american jews will vote Kerry this year. She was stunned.

So I just keep looking for the levers and then pulling them. Good luck with your projects. Remember, Friends Don't Let Friends Vote Bush!

[dogtag]

3. Re your 'Jewish' friend...

Kerry's paternal grandparents were Jews. His brother Cam converted to Judaism when he married a Jewish woman.

[noamnety]

6. send this to your friend

"The American Jewish Committee presented Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) with its Congressional Leadership Award this week (may 2000) in recognition of his work as an "independent leader" on issues that concern ethnic and religious minorities.

"Senator Kerry has been extremely active on causes of great concern to the American Jewish Committee," said AJC President Bruce M. Ramer who presented the award. "He has cosponsored legislation to prevent violence against women, including immigrant women and their families, legislation to strengthen hate crimes, and to protect religious freedom worldwide."

The American Jewish Committee has spearheaded an interreligious coalition working closely with Senator Kerry on the Workplace Religious Freedom Act."
http://www.charitywire.com/charity11/00581.html

In 1986, the B'nai Brith Council of Greater Boston named him "Man of the Year."

This: http://kerry.senate.gov/text/about/accomplishments.html is a handy reference for appealing to various groups.

[wildeyed]

7. excellent. Thanks! n/t

[Jeff in Cincinnati]

4. Security, Security, Security

1) Security. Play up his background as a prosecutor and his role in breaking up BCCI and its terrorist funding network. Show how the Bush "war" approach to fighting terrorism not effective and a "criminal" approach is.

2) Security. Hammer Bush on outsourcing and employment security issues. We've lost two million jobs in the past four years and, more significant than that mere statistic, is that the Bush Administration has no plan on how to reverse the trend.

3) Security. Five million people have lost their healthcare in the past four years, which means they're only one serious illness away from bankruptcy. The Fed Chairman now recommends cutting Social Security benefits because the government can't afford to pay them. Looking for a secure retirement? Don't look to the Bush Administration.

[noamnety]

5. BCCI, birth control, the environment

A. Kerry's role in Iran Contra/BCCI - absolutely. Hammer home the concept that he broke this up. This works for all voters, and for the Naderites especially, emphasize the concept that terrorism is most effectively fought through passive means that disarm the terrorists before they attack (cutting off money laundering opportunities). Bombing civilians increases terrorist recruitment, cutting off money sources does not.

B. Emphasize the assault on birth control access. Pending laws (read the Michigan forum) to allow insurance companies, doctors and pharmacies to deny birth control to patients at whim. Real examples of people being denied birth control. Doctors Bush has appointed to key positions that refused to give birth control to their own patients. I think this is effective for uninvolved non-voters - that hits home, and is more immediate and tangible, than even threats of reinstating the draft. I swear to you all, this issue is more important than the draft, but people don't list it as a priority, because they have no idea what is happening to it. If they knew, they would panic.

C. The environment. Kerry organized the first earth day, look at his previous awards, endorsements from the League of Conservation Voters, the Sierra Club. Naderites appreciate that, and aren't hearing anything about his environmental record.

D. Honest Man in Politics Award in 96 for being the only senator up for reelection to vote against hte DOMA. This is important because it is a stark contradiction to the attempts to paint him as someone who says whatever will please the voters at the time (taargeted to voter 3 who believes the swift boat lies).