Posted on 08/26/2004 8:30:56 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
After receiving no bounce from his own convention and after weeks of being slammed by the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, John Kerry is now 3 point behind President Bush. The latest LA Times poll shows a very polarized race with Democrats strongly backing Kerry and Republicans strongly backing Bush. However, the race has always centered on who will garner the votes of the Independent "swing voters." Kerry has lost ground due to not only his convention performance, but also due to the attacks from the Swift Boat Veterans.
At the convention, Kerry decided to focus on the his own military experience in Vietnam and the country´s future fight against terrorism. The Democrats and Kerry spent so much time talking about the military and national security issues, as well as Kerry´s Vietnam experience, that they neglected the core economic issues that are of primary concern to American voters, especially those coveted swing voters.
Americans face plenty of economic concerns such as skyrocketing health care and tuition costs, stagnant wages, historically high crude oil prices, and outsourcing of jobs. These "kitchen table" issues were addressed adequately by John Edwards at the convention, but not by John Kerry.
Since Kerry focused so much on his controversial Vietnam background, he left himself open for attacks on his service. While Kerry was protesting the war, others in the military were being held hostage or fighting the war in Vietnam.
Among some veterans, there has been simmering resentment toward Kerry and his conduct during this era. Such resentment is now on display with the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth and the 10,000 donors these veterans have recruited nationwide in the past few weeks.
John Kerry made the decision to focus on the wrong issues and now it is coming back to harm his campaign. Kerry has finally started to fight back and point out the connections between the Swift Boat veterans and the Bush campaign, but damage has already been done. Now, the GOP will be having their convention and focusing on the issues that are the strength of the President--the wars, military preparedness and national security. The GOP convention, unlike the Democratic convention, will give their nominee a boost, mainly because the GOP will handle the opportunity correctly.
If Kerry is turn around this situation and win the race, he needs to start addressing the problems in the American economy. Pocket book issues will again determine this race if Kerry decides to make them the battleground. If the race continues to be centered on the issues that are the strongest in the Bush arsenal, then get ready for four more years of George W. Bush as President.
Let me just thank you - personally - for your posts. They are always on the mark and good reads.
Kerry doesn't need any advice from the Pravda Press
(and advice is what this "news" article is).
He's got the core Clintonities on "his" side instead.
If it is an LA Times poll you better tack on another 3% to Bush's number.
Last night I happened to catch Brit Hume and the roundtable. The consensus was that Kerry is still a little bit ahead. I find this shocking - that this empty suit can even be considerd for the office is ridiculous. We still have a lot of work to do.
bump to support SWIFTVETS and GEORGE W. BUSH... http://www.swiftvets.com/
The Convention is next week.
Then it's 8 weeks to go . . . we've been gaining for a month, and will continue to do so. . .the momentum on our side is going up, and the opposition is fighting a tail-spin. . .
Thanks!
Without a doubt.
It was before the LA Times poll came out. I think they all expect Bush to be ahead after the convention and going into Labor Day, which is when the polls start to really count.
The problem with this strategy, of course, is that Kerry will need to make up "problems in the American economy" so that he can then "address" them. All at the same time as he is advocating tax hikes. Sounds like a loser to me.
Plus, although this strategy worked for Clinton back in '92, it will never work for Kerry. As a typical Democrat, Kerry will lie as much as the master, but not nearly as well. That sad sack Kerry has boxed himself in.
All aboard!
I see the train a comin' ... it's comin' rond the bend ...
From my - foreign - view, there´s not much left that could prevent a successful re-election for President Bush. Sorry y´all who cannot stand that a politician serves his country instead of the global socialist community.
"America first" is Bushs policy, and how can someone blame him for speaking out his thoughts?
That's why Edwards is being sent around the country. We need to focus more on him.
Edwards seeks to validate Kerry candidacy in South, rural Midwest (voters uncomfortable w/ Kerry)
Excuse me....???
The article ends: "then get ready for four more years of George W. Bush". So, is that a warning? I can't tell if this author is for or against W. I believe against.
Hey, no fair! I was gonna say that but now you get all the credit and I get none. :(
Bush is getting 15% of Democrats vs. Kerry only 3% of Republicans and independents are evenly split. How is it Bush is only up 3 points? Lets just assume a even distribution of the three groups:
Independents: 50 Kerry, 50 Bush
GOP: 3 Kerry, 97 Bush
Dems: 85 Kerry, 15 Bush
Total: 138 Kerry, 162 Bush....46% Kerry, 54% Bush. Bush should be up by 8 points, but the LA Times assumes there are many more Democrats than Republicans.
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