KERRY'S CRASH CONTINUES

New York Post ^ | 4/06/04 | DICK MORRIS

[kattracks]

April 6, 2004 -- THE latest daily tracking polls by Scott Rasmussen show that President Bush has moved up six points in the past week to take a three-point lead over Sen. John Kerry. The Bush surge is catalyzed by his negative ads, which castigate the Democrat's record on taxes and terrorism, and by the Kerry camp's abysmal failure to answer the charges effectively in paid advertising. For a while, the Kerry collapse was disguised by the national focus on Richard Clarke's accusations about Bush's policies before and after 9/11. The short-term impact of the Clarke hearings was to besmirch the Bush image, but once the headlines faded, the remorseless Bush attacks on Kerry began to take their toll in earnest.

[LdSentinal]

You're right, but the latest Zogby poll (along with FOX, the most accurate in 2000) has Bush leading Kerry.

[pt17]

You know, I just haven't been able to see Kerry as a serious threat since it became clear he was going to win the nomination.

Do not underestimate the power of the voting populace to occasionally do something incredibly stupid. As evidence of this, I would remind you they elected such lowlifes, idiots and sleazebags as Johnson, Carter and Clinton.

[JohnHuang2]

OTH, on matters of defense and national security, Democrats -- especially Kerry -- have zero credibility. The public just doesn't trust Democrats on this. Democrats are seen as wishy-washy, and rightly so. If the election comes down to who is better qualified to keep America safe, it's Bush in a landslide. No contest. In polls, Bush still enjoys a commanding lead over Kerry on Iraq, for instance, despite the relentless torrent of negative news out of Iraq.

[HarryCaul]

Hillary, maybe. McCain, maybe. Powell (haha, kidding!). Perhaps a leading black Democrat. Browkaw. Stephanufogus.

In short, someone who would raise the excitement level for the Dems, and add a "voting for" element to what is essentially a "voting against" campaign.

If I were him, I'd go with an out-of-the-box choice. He's going to lose if he doesn't, so he really has nothing to lose, and might even make some sort of memorable first along the way. Then again, if I were him, I suppose I wouldn't know that I was going to lose.

[HarryCaul]

Johnson is something of a unique case. Carter was elected in response to a sea change and sense of crisis in the country as a whole, which doesn't really exist now, whatever some hardcore Dems may believe. Without a national malaise, he never would have been elected, ironically.

Clinton, believe it or not, people actually liked, and they found him to be an exciting candidate to support.

That's just not there for Kerry. Does anyone anywhere believe Kerry feels their pain?

[JohnHuang2]

CBS News Poll. March 30-April 1, 2004. N=1,024 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3 (total sample).
						.
"Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling the campaign against terrorism?"
		Approve	Disap- prove	Don't Know
		%	%	%
	ALL	58	34	8
	Republicans	89	7	4
	Democrats	34	57	9
	Independents	53	35	12
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press survey conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates. April 1-4, 2004. N=790 adults nationwide. MoE ± 4.
						.
"Do you think the U.S. made the right decision or the wrong decision in using military force against Iraq?"
		Right	Wrong	Don't Know
		%	%	%
	4/1-4/04	57	35	8
	3/17-21/04	55	39	6
	2/24-29/04	60	32	8
Source

[CyberAnt]

Thanks for that link to the USAToday article. I was so upset when I saw the pictures of Bush and Cheney which were so ugly, and then the picture of Kerry which makes him look like a saint. I ripped them for disrespecting the office of the President and VP by posting such a distorted picture.

[CyberAnt]

I don't agree .. after the mess in Fallujah, I hear and see people just as upset as they were after 9/11. We're mad as hell and we want some strong action! If there are more casualties, then we'll just want a stronger response. We don't want our loved ones to give their lives FOR NOTHING - like Vietnam.

Ted Kennedy said today that Iraq was Bush's Vietnam .. we cannot allow that to happen.

[pt17]

Does anyone anywhere believe Kerry feels their pain?

The bottom line issue may be less whether they believe Kerry feels their pain and more if they think he's the remedy for it. Of the people I happen to know, most of the Dems have deluded themselves into thinking their in pain, the out-of-work folks are truly in pain and a fair number of independents can't make up their mind if they're in pain or not. The conservatives I know are, unfortunately, a silent minority.

[claudiustg]

I see a blowout coming in November. Kerry is a fake and they know it. Besides, he's just not likable. Since Nixon only likable people have been elected President, with the possible exception of the elder Bush.

[leadpenny]

Thank you. The Brokaw thing is fascinating.

It would sure be fun watching (if I could stand to) Rather and Jennings covering the campaign.

[blanknoone]

Ted Kennedy said today that Iraq was Bush's Vietnam

As opposed to his brother JFK's Viet Nam? Do the Dems TRY to be such hypocrites?

[johnb838]

Kerry may not make it to the election. I saw a photo op this morning and he looked terrible. The cough was worse and he's lost more weight. If he has a cold he's had it for at least a month. And he's been resting for two weeks!

[GailA]

The grave yards will be voting over time this election. Everyone keep an eye on their voting machines to make sure they are actually functioning.

[537cant be wrong]

pollsters need to get away from the democrat sess pool
the city of st louis is. the rural areas reflect what the
pulse of the state really is. Conservative down home hard
working folks, who know what side the bread is buttered on.
missouri will be in the bush column regardless of the
commie rag st louis post dispatch bush bashing

[Coop]

after the 2000 election, all conservatives know enough to ignore what the "polls" say,

Why? The 2000 polls showed a very close Presidential race. That's what we got.

[mountaineer]

Voters know that the president can't control oil prices

I'm sorry to say that Dick gives the voters too much credit. With Kerry yammering that he'd lower gas prices and Bush won't, plenty of potential voters - those who don't bother to educate themselves - will believe it.

[blandbutmarvellous]

Jennifer Lopez?

[EQAndyBuzz]

Kerry will not make it to the convention. He looks like crap, been out of the loop for almost three weeks and there has been no new commercials out.

This brings up a few points to look at:

1. They are looking for a replacement candidate.

This leads me to believe they are trying to turn annointing Hillary into a major pomp and circumstance show. Hillary will need the right conditions to run and it looks like the DNC is reviewing everything that can hurt her in an election before they pull the trigger. She has money, name recognition and for some reason, women love her. But she also has only four years in the senate as well as a not so glorious past.

2. They are low on cash with a potential FEC investigation in the works. The DNC is having a shredding party and once all the money is washed, Kerry will come out with new ads.

3. They are looking for a VP candidate that is accomondating to all wings of the party. Once Kerry drops out, this candidate will be the standard bearer. I see no candidate that is strong enough to take on Bush/Cheney in 04. Edwards might be a pretty boy that can possibly carry a couple of south states, but don't think he can carry the major fly overs.

4. They are going to concede the election and go after the senate seats. Kerry will retire from the senate after the election and take a fundraising position with the DNC. This will coincide with a last ditch MAD(Mutually Assured Destruction)effort to destroy Bush.

These are only opinions.

[Go Gordon]

The one thing that could change my mind would be a spectacular VP choice

Al Gore?