Posted on 02/02/2004 4:28:58 PM PST by Clive
February 2, 2004 Kerry's miracle run may end up wrinkled
Any substance to Democratic frontrunner?
By PETER WORTHINGTON -- Toronto Sun
In tomorrow's seven-state primaries in the United States, the outcome in South Carolina may well determine who will be the Democratic presidential candidate.
If Senator John Kerry wins, or comes in a strong second, the rest of the field might as well pack up their campaigns, as Dick Gephardt did, and go back to whatever they were doing before the bug of being prez bit them.
Who'd have thought, a couple of weeks ago, that Senator Kerry would seem a virtual shoo-in? Maybe Kerry himself, but probably not his wife. (Wives are often more sensible about things than hubbies).
Even yesterday's New York Times gave Kerry the winner treatment -- analyzing the why's and wherefore's of his emergence as the top choice.
There's now barely a mention of his amazing physical transformation in seeming to have turned the clock back on his age, with allegations of Botox treatments that eliminated worry lines on his forehead and smoothed out crags and wrinkles on his face.
Since the wins in Iowa and New Hampshire, Kerry even looks, sounds and acts more presidential than his competitors. A miracle makeover from before.
Of tomorrow's seven primaries (Arizona, Delaware, Missouri, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Carolina), only Delaware and, marginally, New Mexico were won by the Democrats in 2000. The rest were solidly Republican.
Senator John Edwards was expected to win handily in South Carolina, with Rev. Al Sharpton (30% of the state is black) and Gen. Wesley Clark trailing.
If Kerry finishes a strong second, for all practical terms it's likely game, set and match. Edwards will become a vice-presidential candidate.
Kerry's rise has already flummoxed Republican hopes for a Democratic ticket of Vermont Gov. Howard Dean and Gen. Clark, who'd be duck soup to clobber. But both these guys have bombed.
Media observers and seasoned political know-alls are still shell-shocked that Kerry has soared to the front like, well, like Seabiscuit.
If Kerry becomes the nominee, probably the most disappointed Democrat will be Senator Hillary Clinton, whom insiders suspect of hoping Dean would get the nomination and be wiped out by Bush, clearing the way for Hillary in 2008.
You'd think from the massive U.S. coverage, and Kerry's frontal assaults on Bush, that he'd have a good chance at winning the presidency.
Not necessarily so.
No ex-senator has achieved the presidency in 40 years and, as a Washington insider, Kerry has a lot of baggage -- like appearing to change his stand or vote depending on mood and opportunity.
The military vote is vital in South Carolina, and Kerry's Silver Star, Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts from his service in Vietnam look good -- compared to George Bush's service in the National Guard, presumably ready to defend America against Mexico.
Before one waxes too emotional over Kerry's medals, it might be remembered that Gen. Clark also won a Silver Star in Vietnam as a lieutenant and got four Purple Hearts -- a curious medal to "win" since all it entails is getting wounded. In some armies, it is more commendable to wound the enemy.
Damaging to Kerry among vets is his post-Vietnam anti-war, anti-military campaigning as an ally of George McGovern and Jane Fonda.
He pretended to throw away his Vietnam medals in disgust when in truth it was someone else's medals he threw.
Kerry also voted against the 1991 Iraq war, then voted for the 2003 war, then recently insisted he wasn't voting for war.
As a senator, Kerry has been undistinguished, with a reputation of opportunism in his voting record.
All this and more will likely emerge if Kerry does well in South Carolina and becomes the official Democratic candidate.
Maybe, in a tough campaign against Bush, the wrinkles will reappear on his forehead. Botox, stand by!
They even look the same.
You mean the medals he threw away?
Is it true he got the three Purple Hearts in the period of three months?
Wonder what kind of wounds and if he had a bullseye painted on him.
Only counting US-citizen votes, I'm convinced the GOP won New Mexico in 2000. That was one of the untold fraud stories of that election.
A slam against all. What a cheap shot atguard and reservists.
My mother was a Canadian by birth, and American by choice and a Republican steered by her convictions.
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