Posted on 07/01/2004 8:32:50 PM PDT by neverdem
VIRTUALLY every poll shows a dead heat between President Bush and Sen. John Kerry; the tie has persisted ever since early May, when Iraq let the Democrat back into the race. Some polls suggest Bush has recovered in the past month; others, that he's still slipping. Either way, the two campaigns are locked in mortal combat and each has to be looking for a way to break the tie. Yet beneath it all lies a deep consensus that spans the parties and both genders.
Voters overwhelmingly believe that Bush would be the better president to wage the War on Terror. In the Fox News survey, voters said that Bush would be better than Kerry at "protecting the U.S. from terror attacks" by 49 percent to 28 percent. (Women said Bush was better by 46-27; men, by 54-30.)
But voters also have more faith in Kerry to deal with a host of domestic issues. Despite the relatively positive economic news of recent months, voters give Kerry an edge of 10 to 30 percentage points on creating jobs, lowering health care costs, protecting Social Security and helping the environment. Even on education, a signature Bush initiative, Kerry has a double digit lead.
The economy still works to Kerry's advantage. His edge shrinks with each good job-creation report — but the lag time in popular perceptions is huge: A plurality of voters still believe we're in a recession, two years after it ended.
This election will hinge on what Americans want in a president. It's not so much a contest between two candidates, ideologies or even parties as it is a clash between two different issues or priorities for the voters.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
I know most freepers don't like Morris - but he makes some good points here. Bush should be talking up the economy every day at a stump speech someplace.
To seal the deal with the devil, sKerry must choose . . . . . Shrillery Rodham Klintoon.
He probably is, but it doesn't make the news. Contrast that with Clinton, whatever he said that day made the nightly news somehow. The media won't let Bush use the bully pulpit if they can help it.
The Churchill factor.
Morris is right about this. Pres. Bush should sell his competence as a war-fighter, coalition builder, and securer of relative peace in an uncertain world etc., etc. Sen. Kerry should continue to sell his competence as a soul-less, spineless, gutless clerk.
people already have their minds made up, even if the fat lady sang at the democratic convention and aliens were scene skywriting in the sky "support Bush" its not going to change peoples vote.
I don't think so. Fox News covers most of his appearances, I don't see a consistent message on the economy. he's got to stop saying "this economy is GETTING better"; that implies future tense. drop that line completely.
As I type this I am listening to a rerun of Kerry's speech to Rainbow/Push on Tuesday. (It's on CSPAN-2) The guy is a complete idiot, but the rats seem to be eating it up. I'm hoping that when the country gets a load of him during the convention America will turn from him in disgust and horror. On the other hand, there is always a segment of the population that will vote for what it sees as a free lunch that it so richly deserves. At any rate, if the economy continues to improve, Kerry's entire platform will dry up and blow away.
there is still a segment off swing voters that have not. although generally, I agree with you - the turnout amongst each party's base will decide the election.
"Bring It On!"
"...sKerry must choose . . . . . Shrillery Rodham Klintoon"
This evening, talking to O'Reilly, he stated over Bill's objection, and emphasized.....he wouldn't sell Kerry any life insurance if Hillary was VP.
Bill tried to make less of the statement, but Dick was adamant about this!
I have reached the point of terminal ennui each and every time Morris pounds the keyboard. It is all so formulaic and so predictable, and so wrong. The fact is, nobody knows what will really motivate swing voters at the end, and how they will weight competing considerations, and how events will play out in Iraq. I think we know, that the economy will continue to be a waning issue for Dems. It is unlikely the "tensions" in the system will manifest themselves this year. Morris is a Delphic oracle, who was absorbed too much of the sulfur. The message is not only opaque, but not worth parsing.
the debates are important, I don't think the conventions are going to get alot of viewership outside the political base.
bump
That is true, Fox does. But even if Bush does everything you want him to do, dont expect the other networks to devote their top 5 min every night and hang on every word he says like they did for Clinton.
Earlier this year he was saying when the new job numbers were low, no matter what happened in Iraq, it would be in Kerry's favor ('its the economy stupid')
Then when the job situation got better but Iraq was bad that as long as Iraq was in bad shape, Kerry would have an upper hand but if Bush could fix Iraq, it would be good for Bush
Now he is saying that because Iraq is in better shape and the economy is in good shape, that Bush should be worried about Kerry
He either doesn't know what he is talking about, or really doesn't know what he is talking about. Take your pick.
Virtually?
Come on, tell us how you REALLY feel!
I believe the Democratic Convention will be the beginning of the end for any liberal hopes of ousting President Bush…
When the indifferent, apathetic, ill-informed, and/or “independents” who make up roughly a third of American voters see and hear their bile and virulent hatred by the “usual suspects”, the looks on their face will be similar to Jerry Seinfeld’s after George “came clean” about all of his “issues”.
Put simply… They will be “scared straight”!
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