Posted on 07/02/2004 2:20:17 AM PDT by Happy2BMe
DESPERATE MEASURES
Could it be that desperation is setting in a bit more, well, desperately in the Kerry campaign? Up till now, most political tea leaf readers had Kerry announcing his decision on vice president coming the week of July 11. But recent polling numbers may have Kerry advisers changing those plans.
According to a Kerry campaign source, Sen. John Edwards, Rep. Dick Gephardt, Gov. Tom Vilsack, Gen. Wesley Clark, and "a surprise candidate" were each contacted on Wednesday and told to be prepared for an announcement with Kerry as early as July 6. Each short-lister provided the campaign with updated contact and travel information for the July 4 weekend and afterward.
"It's accelerated. It all began happening on Wednesday," says the campaign source. "For the past week we've been told there was no decision, then all of sudden, this. We've been sifting through some cruddy poll numbers, so maybe that has something to do with it."
Cruddy indeed. New polling from a number of sources, including internal polling, has Kerry struggling and even lagging in a race that by all rights he should be leading by low double digits.
"When you factor in a president down in the 40s of approval, and a candidate that many people claim they don't know much about, there is no way we should be losing Michigan and Pennsylvania. But we are," says the Kerry adviser. "We've spent $50 million and have nothing to show for it. Not a single point."
According to the source, the thinking goes that a complete Kerry ticket out in public sooner rather than later should energize things enough in the media and the base to give Kerry the uptick his people have been waiting for.
There was no indication of who the "surprise" candidate was. "It could be Hillary. It's assumed that she has been vetted on a separate track from the others. At least that's the talk. No one here knows for sure," says the source.
Edwards was due in Boston after the July 4th holiday for campaign appearances, at least one of which was to be with Kerry.
According to a Clinton Senate staffer in New York City, late on Wednesday, a staff colleague called from the road and indicated that "the Senator may need to change some things around next week." "But we weren't told to do anything for now," says the staffer.
Red
Hillary wouldn't be a trail blazer...been there the Dems done that already.
She has far too much baggage,would do far too much harm,and won't raise enough money,in two weeks,to make a difference.
The right, INCLUDING THE FRINGE,WHO ARE NOW NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR PRESIDENT BUSH would crawl through fire,over molten lava laced broken glass,with people shooting bullets at them,to vote for President Bush,with Hillary as Kerry's V.P. and both she and he know that!
And President Bush will NOT jettison Cheney,nor is there anyone,not Condi,not Powell,not anyone,who would pull in votes,Away from a Kerry/Clinton ticket.
As someone said earlier....KEEP YOUR DAY JOB!And do remove your tinfoil.
Yesterday,oh she who imagines herself to be a political whiz. LOL
The Unions want Gephart and have said that they'll take their votes and sit home,if the V.P. is someone else. Is that an empty threat? I have no idea.
No it will not be Cheney dumped for McCain.
You're wrong and that had NOLTHING whatsoever ton do with her yearning for the V.P. slot. :-p
Right...as usual. :-)
Especially when that bloc votes at something like the 110% of registered voters in some districts already. Hard to increase turnout over that . . .
Yeah, Edwards is a possibility.I heard Mark Davis say on our local radio WBAP-AM 820 that the Governor of
Pennsylvania, Edward Rendell, was a possibility, too. But I don't know if that's
likely. Davis re-asserted this pick this week when a 'RAT insider said it would be a
'surprise' candidate, and everyone thought "Hillary", of course. Not me. I don't think
it's hitlery.Bill Richardson, Governor of New Mexico said he isn't interested in the V.P. slot.
LOL Yep. Saw Dickie Morris on O'Reilly the other night and he said "jokingly" that if he was an insurance salesman, he wouldn't sell insurance to any candidate who had her for a running mate. jokingly, of course.
one of the interesting things about a Condi-hillary debate is hillary wouldn't be able to use the poor little female being 'attacked' by the alpha male. would be really interesting to see I think.
Nah pick Michael Moore or The Revvvvahrand JessEeeee JaacksSun,
I can see Hillary somehow stealing the Pres or Vice Pres Nomination from Kerry and Edwards at the convention.
It ain't over...
till it's over.
And Dean's people are already talking about drafting
delegates votes at the convention so the scheme is
still in the air.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.