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Some Democrats Say Kerry Must Get Back on the Trail
NY Times ^ | 3-20-04 | DAVID M. HALBFINGER and ADAM NAGOURNEY

Posted on 03/20/2004 5:56:04 PM PST by Indy Pendance

SUN VALLEY, Idaho, March 20 — After a 15-month campaign that took John Kerry from the brink of defeat to the nomination, and after a string of off-the-cuff statements that even his aides described as potentially damaging to his White House hopes, it may be hard to begrudge him a few days off.

Still, as Mr. Kerry disappeared to regroup on the slopes of Sun Valley this weekend, he left Democrats recoiling at the disparity between his campaign in the works and the White House, which has devoted six months to preparing for this moment.

As the White House greeted Mr. Kerry's claim on the Democratic nomination with an avalanche of advertisements and attacks, the challenger seemed at least a little spent as he faced the challenges of raising money, building a staff, responding to all of what his aides called the "incoming," and retooling his campaign to appeal to a general election audience.

Après ski, of course.

As the up-one-day, down-the-next cycle began in earnest, Democrats were wondering if even Mr. Kerry had underestimated the ferocity of the White House attack. In particular, they expressed concern about the potency of the Republicans' use of his Senate voting record to lampoon him as vacillating and indecisive, as he appeared to struggle to explain an array of votes the White House has come across during all these months of diligently researching his records.

"He has to come out forcefully and defend his record, because clearly the Republicans are trying to label him as a flip-flopper," said Gordon Fischer, the Democratic chairman in Iowa. "I don't think that's fair. But he's got to get out there, or his campaign has to get out there."

Senator John B. Breaux, Democrat of Louisiana, added: "He clearly is going to have to deal with that. But more important, he is going to have to talk about his positions on the issue of the day, not a vote on an amendment or what have you. People don't understand that. When you get into Washington-speak, it's a dangerous business. You've got to keep it simple."

While no one was ringing any alarm bells, Democrats around Mr. Kerry were contemplating some changes in course. Among the most prominent suggestions was that Mr. Kerry accelerate his selection of a running mate so that he has help raising money and making the Democratic case against Mr. Bush.

Democrats conceded that the past two weeks have highlighted some of Mr. Kerry's vulnerabilities, like his penchant for making politically unwise statements. On Tuesday, he responded to Republican attacks that he had voted against an $87 billion appropriation to support, in part, American troops in Iraq. "I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it," he said.

Republicans inserted a clip of Mr. Kerry saying that into their latest television advertisement in about as much time as it takes to say "on the other hand."

"You don't get a gift like Tuesday every day," said Matthew Dowd, a senior Bush strategist.

It was a gift that troubled some Democrats.

"This is a very important period, because it frames the candidates and the issues of the campaign," said Art Torres, the California Democratic chairman. "And I think that some of John's offhanded comments about foreign leaders are becoming a caricature for cartoonists and others. Once people start making fun of you, you're in real trouble and it's hard to move forward."

Slightly more disturbing, some Democrats say, is whether Mr. Kerry might have underestimated the effectiveness of the White House effort to point out what many people might view as conflicting votes he has cast during his Senate career. This is a common hazard for any member of Congress running for president, and part of why no sitting member of Congress has been elected president of the United States since 1960.

Democrats said that Mr. Kerry had yet to come up with an effective rejoinder.

In an interview three weeks ago, Mr. Kerry breezily dismissed suggestions that he might be vulnerable to that kind of attack. "My votes are actually going to be the easiest," he said. "I'm not concerned about votes to be honest with you. "

But a New York Times/CBS News poll conducted last week found that nearly 6 in 10 registered voters said that Mr. Kerry said what he wanted people to hear, rather than what he believed. Democrats said that reflected early Republican success at using Mr. Kerry's Senate votes, often on incremental or procedural bills, to raise questions about him.

A senior Bush aide said there was a "treasure chest" of votes and statements by Mr. Kerry that would let the White House continue this line of attack throughout the year.

Gov. Bob Wise, Democrat of West Virginia, a critical state for Mr. Kerry to win, said: "What's important is they've got to come back and rebut them right away, because he's not well known. He clearly has to rebut this, and keep swinging."

Mr. Kerry's weeklong vacation is welcomed by aides in no small part because of his remark about the $87 billion and a statement that Republicans have portrayed as him claiming that foreign leaders were rooting for his victory.

"When you burn the candle at both ends, you'll make a comment here or there that's blown out of proportion," said Scott Maddox, the Florida Democratic chairman.

While some Democrats said that they thought it was smart for Mr. Kerry to take time off now, others said he should not disappear for too long given that the White House was moving at full throttle.

Asked about Mr. Kerry's decision to take a vacation, Gov. Edward G. Rendell of Pennsylvania said, "I think he has to for a little bit."

"But not for long," said Mr. Rendell, a former chairman of the Democratic National Committee. "We need to be raising money."


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2004; awol; kerry; sunvalley
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To: Indy Pendance
His friends, OTOH think he ought to stay behind locked doors and keep his mouth shut.
21 posted on 03/20/2004 6:23:17 PM PST by the Real fifi
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To: Indy Pendance
I'm quite impressed... this was actually somewhat objective and straightforward reporting. I think its hilarious that they think the Bush attacks so far have been so overwhelming. I think Bush hasnt even taken off his fluffy pink mittens yet... when he starts going after Kerry for real, the democrats will go into panic. Shock and Awe baby!
22 posted on 03/20/2004 6:23:26 PM PST by Betaille ("I voted for the 87 billion dollars before I voted against it." -John Kerry)
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To: Indy Pendance
Better to be stumbling, falling down and looking like a complete fool on the slopes in Idaho, than returning to the Flip Flop trail and proving it.
23 posted on 03/20/2004 6:23:57 PM PST by F.J. Mitchell (Is a pompuus,priviliged, jetset punk , a proper Presidential prospect?)
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To: Indy Pendance
"When you burn the candle at both ends,"

Huh ? Kerry is handed the nomination on a silver platter, his opposition consisted of Al Sharpton and Dennis Kuchinich, the partisan media was on their knees the whole campaign and poor John is so pooped, he popped ?

Kerry has the "old deer in the headlights " look. Becoming the nominee may have been Kerry's biggest flip flop, to date. He was running for the nomination, but, he didn't really want the nomination.
All the cliches apply to Kerry- Be careful what you wish for, Not ready for prime time, On the job training, This old dog won't hunt, etc.
I'd love to be a fly on the wall at the DNC HQ and also have a corner on the Maalox concessions in Georgetown.
24 posted on 03/20/2004 6:24:14 PM PST by Wild Irish Rogue
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To: Cicero
Kerry was so far out of it most voters didn't even know who he was. So he got the "Anonymous Democrat" vote.

Agreed, and if things continue as they are, a lot of Democrats may recoil from him.

25 posted on 03/20/2004 6:25:55 PM PST by squidly (I have always felt that a politician is to be judged by the animosity he excites among his opponents)
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To: Wild Irish Rogue
"He was running for the nomination, but, he didn't really want the nomination."
Do you get the creeping suspicion that Kerry may have taken this vacation in order to think over whether or not he really wants to run? It's not too late for him to drop out yet.
26 posted on 03/20/2004 6:26:23 PM PST by Betaille ("I voted for the 87 billion dollars before I voted against it." -John Kerry)
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To: Indy Pendance
"I don't think that's fair." Of course you you don't. It is about a fellow Dem. a dim Dem, at that. Of course, when the butt of the joke or complaint is a Repub. all's fair in love and campaigning.

vaudine
27 posted on 03/20/2004 6:26:40 PM PST by vaudine
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To: Betaille
I counted the word "attack" 8 times used in the first half of this article. I got tired of counting. The media is so pathetic.
28 posted on 03/20/2004 6:28:36 PM PST by omegab
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To: teletech
Well, what if all his delegates vote for someone else?

Sure, it won't happen, but what if it did?

There is no way the dems could switch candidates as you propose. Not unless they want to lose all fifty states.
29 posted on 03/20/2004 6:28:41 PM PST by proxy_user
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To: omegab
Hah! Sorry about that... Ive become so used to liberal editorializing passing for reporting... I barely even noticed all of the subconcious bias in this article.
30 posted on 03/20/2004 6:33:10 PM PST by Betaille ("I voted for the 87 billion dollars before I voted against it." -John Kerry)
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To: Wild Irish Rogue
"When you burn the candle at both ends,"

This drives me crazy whenever I hear someone make excuses for him, "oh he's sooo tired".
Excuse me, is Al Queda going to wait for you to come back from vacation and your needed rest to attack?

31 posted on 03/20/2004 6:34:00 PM PST by republicangel
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To: proxy_user
"There is no way the dems could switch candidates as you propose."
Sure they could. Kerry would just need to drop out... then the Delegates could choose a candidate at the convention just like they used to. It would be a more disorganized convention than we're used to, but that doesn't necessarily mean it would kill them.
32 posted on 03/20/2004 6:35:04 PM PST by Betaille ("I voted for the 87 billion dollars before I voted against it." -John Kerry)
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To: teletech
"Kerry has all but sewed up the nomination. He has the delegates but the bigger question is if he self-destructs, as I believe he will, will the RATS pull the old switcheroo again like they did in New Jersey?"

Okay, I'm gonna play "devil's advocate" here (probably a sensible thing to do when you're talking about a party as evil as the Dems)....If they try a "Convention Nomination Surprise", who are would they pick at this point who could possibly have a chance of winning for them? Hillary? She's not going to run this time unless she knows for sure she can win...Gore? He doesn't look like he wants to run (or can)...Besides the two of them, who else is there they could nominate?
33 posted on 03/20/2004 6:36:00 PM PST by Springfield45 (Bush WON, Democrats. Now YOU get over it.)
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To: Springfield45
"Besides the two of them, who else is there they could nominate?"
Edwards still seems to want it.
34 posted on 03/20/2004 6:38:57 PM PST by Betaille ("I voted for the 87 billion dollars before I voted against it." -John Kerry)
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To: Indy Pendance
John "Wasted away again" Kerry's week in song:

Dick threw out my flip-flops.
I tripped on a fed cop.
Acted a heel couldn't snowboard back down.
But the news' in the blender,
And soon it will render,
A well-spun concoction to help me hang on!

Wasted away again in Liberalfantasyville.
Searching for that slick way to the top.
Some people say that it's my woman who pays...
Still I'll lose: "It's Bush/Cheney's fault"!

35 posted on 03/20/2004 6:40:08 PM PST by mrsmith ("Oyez, oyez! All rise for the Honorable Chief Justice... Hillary Rodham Clinton ")
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To: Betaille
It would be a more disorganized convention than we're used to, but that doesn't necessarily mean it would kill them.

It would kill them. Hillary Clinton (the only possible nominee if Kerry drops out) is even worse than Kerry: more polarizing, less polished, shrill, and would unite the Republicans even more.

36 posted on 03/20/2004 6:40:36 PM PST by sinkspur (Adopt a dog or a cat from an animal shelter! It will save one life, and may save two.)
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To: Indy Pendance
"Gov. Bob Wise, Democrat of West Virginia, a critical state for Mr. Kerry to win, said: "What's important is they've got to come back and rebut them right away, because he's not well known. He clearly has to rebut this, and keep swinging."

He is going to have such a backlog of things to rebutt....he'll probably just fold!

37 posted on 03/20/2004 6:43:56 PM PST by TheLion
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To: Indy Pendance
I would like to see his real character magnified when he called the Secret Service agent that knocked him off his snow board a "Son of a Bitch." The agent, reported "Lurch" to higher authority.

Anyone know how it came out???? It's too juicy to let drop.

38 posted on 03/20/2004 6:44:44 PM PST by Joee
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To: Betaille
But that's not like New Jersey at all. Torcelli had been nominated, and was campaigning. It was October, and the election was 3 or 4 weeks away.

If the Dems tried replacing a presidential candidate four weeks before the election because he thought he couldn't win, their name would be mud for 100 years thereafter.
39 posted on 03/20/2004 6:46:27 PM PST by proxy_user
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To: TheLion
...rebut them right away

You can't rebut was is your own doing. There are no attacks going on here only his own record and words are really being used.

John Kerry: "I want to rebut the rebuttal. uh, I think...?

40 posted on 03/20/2004 6:48:56 PM PST by omegab
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