Bush camp itching to draw blood (Bring it on!!)

The Straits Times ^ | 2/21/04

[mylife]

Bush camp itching to draw blood

Democratic candidates are gaining ground in opinion polls, and many Republicans can't wait to fight back

WASHINGTON - The presidential primary season has been good for Democrats, and President George W. Bush's anxious allies now fear his standing with the electorate has been undercut. And they want to start fighting back.

'The mood is not restless, but restive. Everybody's eager to get in the game,' said Mr Tom Rath, a Republican Party leader in New Hampshire who advises the White House.

A survey released on Thursday found that the public's impression of the Democratic field had improved as the candidates battled for their party's nomination.

Now, 45 per cent view the field positively compared to 31 per cent a month earlier.

Mr Bush's overall favourability rating is still positive at 53 per cent, but it compares with 72 per cent last April, shortly after the fall of Baghdad, and is the low point of his presidency.

Likewise, his job-approval rating has dropped to 48 per cent, the first time that it has fallen below 50 per cent, according to the poll by the Pew Research Centre for the People and the Press.

Public impressions of the leading Democratic candidates are generally positive.

Two-thirds of those who are familiar with front runner John Kerry have a favourable view of him. Mr John Edwards, Mr Kerry's closest challenger, has a 63-per-cent favourability rating among the smaller group of people who are familiar with him.

Expectations of the outcome of the general election this autumn are also changing - 51 per cent now think Mr Bush will win, compared with 61 per cent a month ago.

Among Democrats, 25 per cent now think Mr Bush will win, compared with 38 per cent in January.

A new USA Today/CNN/Gallup poll showed Mr Bush trailing both Mr Kerry and Mr Edwards by double digits. Some 55 per cent would support Mr Kerry to 43 per cent for Mr Bush, and 54 per cent would support Mr Edwards to 44 per cent for Mr Bush.

Mindful of his slump, the President has increased his travel to battleground states and his surrogates are pushing back against Democratic criticism.

But the re-election campaign has refused to draw from its enormous bank accounts to air TV ads until after the Democratic race is settled.

Republican leaders across the country said they were equal parts confident and concerned about Mr Bush's political prospects, united in their belief that the President has time to recover from the pounding administered by Democratic candidates.

But some are more anxious than others about the hold-your-fire strategy adopted by Mr Bush and his political advisers.

'They've lost their intensity, their message, their focus,' said consultant Dave Carney.

It is impossible to accurately gauge the level of unease because the White House works hard to suppress dissent.

Some Republicans said they were not sure that Bush allies in Washington were doing enough to defend him.

'I think we could all do a better job,' said Governor Bill Owens of Colorado. 'But I think the President's re-election team has wanted the President to be president, and not get in the middle of the Democratic Party's process.'

Meanwhile, the White House on Thursday struggled anew to contain the fallout over an overly optimistic forecast that 2.6 million jobs would be created this year.

The chairman of Mr Bush's re-election campaign, Marc Racicot, continued a general Bush administration retreat by saying the forecast was only a 'stated goal'.

Republicans complained that the flap was taking attention away from the positive news that the economy is now creating jobs, and said the Bush team was allowing Democrats to have a field day.

'This is a fiasco,' said a Republican with close ties to the White House. 'It's putting a damper on what is otherwise very optimistic and positive news.'

[rllngrk33]

But some are more anxious than others about the hold-your-fire strategy adopted by Mr Bush and his political advisers.

You ever hear of rope-a-dope? Election Day is a long way away. I think Bush is wise to stay out of the RATS nomination fight. Let them beat themselves up and spend all their money. When the Conventions are over Bush will have $200 Million plus to beat up on the RATs with.

[writer33]

Excellent point about the money. Yep. I agree. Let 'em go broke fightin' each other off.

[Jank]

You got it down! Bring it on, at the right time.

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

AFTER 40 YEARS OF OUR NATION BEING DRAGGED THROUGH THE MUD

WE WILL NOT COWER BUT WE WILL FIGHT

WE WILL FIGHT FOR ENDURING FREEDOM