Do you think this had anything to do with trying to offset Nader defections?
NO.. it has to do with Kerry's misconception about the power of the media. Kerry returned from Vietnam to find the media was very anti Vietnam war. Not only that, but they had convinced the public... well according to the media they had. They kind of forget that Nixon won almost as big a victory in 72 as FDR did in 1966. Nixon won 61 to 38 in 1972 while FDR won 61 to 37 in 1936.
So Kerry went far left in the early 70's basking in the shadow of Jane Fonda and Dan Rather. .. Kerry reached for fame trashing the troops, and praising our enemies.
It was at that point that I believe that Kerry came to the conclusion that the media rules the world.
So when he ran for the nomination in 2004, he ran to please the media. When the media turned on Dean, it reinforced Kerry's view. Kerry, I think, is certain that if Dean had not made the INTERNET a big deal and had given all credit to his success to the TV And Print media, Kerry would not be the nominee. But Dean gave credit to the new media and the old media took him down... or so Kerry believes.
Thus as the time came to pick a V.P. Kerry did not listen to his advisors... He listened to the media and they said they wanted Edwards the wonder boy. So Kerry picked Edwards.... even though it makes no political sense.
The interesting thing about that choice is the media has no reason to think Edwards is a vote getter. No more reason than they had to believe our troops in Nam were baby killers.
Everyone knew Edwards did not stand for reelection to the Senate because his poll numbers in North Carolina were terrible. Even today in weak moments the media concedes that Edwards can not carry North Carolina for Kerry.
Yet the media is convinced that pretty boy Edwards can help Kerry in the South. To that I have one question.. How bad a candidate must a Southern Senator be to get beaten in Georgia by a liberal, pompous, boring New England aristocrat? Kerry defeated Edwards in the Georgia primary.That says it all.
So Kerry is going with the media. He thinks they will elect him. The media does not understand that real men and woman don't like pretty boys. Men by nature dislike effeminate men. And gals don't like the competition for the makeup mirror.
Kerry had best hope that he is well ahead going into October. Because if Kerry is just slightly behind in October, the media will do what it always does to a losing liberal. It will not be able to admit that Kerry is going down because he is liberal. He will go down as bad candidate who could not win in spite of being a liberal. He will be the poor communicator and dumb leftist who is causing the left to lose. Kerry will likely find that in the end his lovely media will turn on him.. He will take the blame... when all he did is slavishly follow their advice.
bttt