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.
Really?
If he's smart (I'm not sure he is), Kerry will pick Edwards. He brings apparent youth, good looks and energy to the top half of the ticket that increasingly looks like a combination of Lurch and a high school disciplinarian -- someone to avoid.
Richardson has sent a letter to the Kerry campaign removing his name from consideration.
It sounds like you are not a big fan of Dick Cheney...
Condi has never run for public office and when compared against the shrewdenss and cunning of Hillary in a national debate, Hillary would tear her to shreds.
Dick Cheney is not the priority here. The priority here is keeping John Kerry OUT of the White House.
Gratefully, if Hillary! is the choice, she'll be facing Vice President Cheney in the debate.
Me an ostrich after fighting Al queda and the Taliban? Imagine that I'm an ostrich, not!!!!
Very Best FReegards, Defender2
D2
:-)
Hillary hadn't also run for any public office in 2000.
Really. For sure.
Hillary did.
Like he had any to begin with! :-D
It's Richardson. It's Clinton. It's not going to matter. While Richardson or Clinton (Richardson has more positives for the swing vote Kerry's courting) neither will really matter this year. Fear's the candidate this year. He just hasn't announced his candidacy yet.
As for Happy's burgeoning political acumen, we'll let's just say don't quit your day job. A dropped Cheney would sink Bush's ship so fast it's not even funny. People don't cotton to disloyalty when it comes to incumbent running mates. Condelezza Rice isn't going to take his spot. Jeez.
Unless I'm off target, breaking events will overshadow the race.
This all sounds like more wishful thinking on the part of the Dims and shows how desperate their supporters have become. As far as Bush's VP choices go, he's fiercely loyal and won't dump Cheney.
Sorry, but Kerry's chances ain't 50/50 right now.
Condi has a lot of talent and is wise. She has a lot of experience in foreign affaires, very important in this wartime.
And you of all people should be willing to do whatever it takes to keep Kerry (and Hillary as second-in-command) from ravaging our armed forces like Bill Clinton did in his eight years of terror.
Please explain to me how you consider a voting bloc that's 85-90% Democrat to be a "swing" voting bloc.
One thing I find interesting about this, is that I cannot recall an election in which the selection of a Vice Presidential candidate was deemed so important. This speaks of the candidate's weakness, I dare say. A second personality is required to give a "booster shot" to the compensate the frailties of the first. ;)
Regards, Ivan
Once the right replacement that stands the best chance of retaining the White House comes up, the answer to that question will be obvious.
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