Posted on 09/01/2004 10:52:47 AM PDT by FlyLow
New York (CNSNews.com) - Rumors of a possible shakeup of Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry's presidential campaign put Democratic Party chairman Terry McAuliffe on the defensive Wednesday when peppered with questions from reporters.
"There will be no major campaign shakeups. Let me be crystal clear on that," McAuliffe said. "Will we add people and compliment the campaign on the national level? Of course we will."
Political operatives have suggested that Kerry's inability to deflect attacks from the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth will lead to campaign changes. It took Kerry two weeks to directly respond to the television ads that questioned his military service in Vietnam.
In the meantime, Kerry has lost his lead in polls since the anti-Kerry veterans began running their ads. Now, according to news reports, frustrated Democrats want to oust Kerry campaign manager Mary Beth Cahill and communications director Stephanie Cutter.
McAuliffe refuted reports about a Kerry campaign crisis. He said Democrats were in good shape heading into the next two months.
"Standing here today, I am very comfortable where we are," McAuliffe said. "Friday the general election begins. They've had their convention, we've had ours. We are off for those 60 days and we are going to be out aggressively."
Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, who is leading the Democrats' attack this week, dismissed suggestions that Kerry should take a tougher approach.
"Negative campaigns may work for those who are routinely involved in the political process," Vilsack said, "but they are a complete turnoff to those who are struggling."
Instead, Vilsack said, it was Bush who has turned negative. He said the president cannot run on his record because it's a turnoff for swing voters.
"Let me tell you something, you've got two options when you run for re-election," Vilsack said. "It's very simple. You can either talk about your record .... or you can tear the other guy down."
The Democrats dispatched to New York to counter the GOP have consistently expressed frustration with the so-called "masquerade" Republicans are passing off at their convention.
But speakers at the Democrats' daily press briefings have also veered off topic at times, and each day at least one Democrat manages to rehash Kerry's Vietnam controversy. New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer and New Jersey Sen. Frank Lautenberg both brought up the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth during Wednesday's briefing.
Despite a week out of the limelight, McAuliffe expressed confidence about Kerry's chances in November.
"Where the polls are today, if you look at the Electoral College, if the election were held today, we would win," McAuliffe said. "We're up in Florida, we're up in all the states that Al Gore carried in 2000, some, albeit, very close."
The RATS are leaving faster Kerry's ship than a Purple Heart got on his chest in 'Nam!
This is true except we are ahead in Florida, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Pennsylvania.
Are you gonna give that hamster cpr?
And we do appreciate you Dims for keeping this story alive in the MSM. A moron a day, that's all we ask.
Susan Estrich just addressed this on FOX.It seems that this rumr was cooked up by AL Hunt,Mrs. Hunt, and Corporal Cueball.
Hmmmmmmm...Clintontites throwing monkey wrenches into the Kerryy effort?????? Hillary in 08, anyone.
It's not always how Where you hit them, but WHEN....
All they have to do is confron the charges of the Swifties and the bleeding would eventually stop. Instead they go into attack mode, through surrogates mostly, and not one charge is refuted.
hey, that's how john kerry got to cambodia without anyone else knowing about it!
The reason why they are leaving Kerry is shown below!
From the article:
Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, who is leading the Democrats' attack this week, dismissed suggestions that Kerry should take a tougher approach.
"Negative campaigns may work for those who are routinely involved in the political process," Vilsack said, "but they are a complete turnoff to those who are struggling."
Instead, Vilsack said, it was Bush who has turned negative. He said the president cannot run on his record because it's a turnoff for swing voters.
"Let me tell you something, you've got two options when you run for re-election," Vilsack said. "It's very simple. You can either talk about your record .... or you can tear the other guy down."
The Democrats dispatched to New York to counter the GOP have consistently expressed frustration with the so-called "masquerade" Republicans are passing off at their convention.
Vilsack: What color is the sky on your planet ??
Excellent photo-shop work...great for eMail to the libs...Thanks Dave.
McAuliffe on the defensive??? There's a first.
Did someone question whether he rolled back the odometers at his used car lot?
Susan Estrich on Fox "The Kerry Campaign is in good shape, look at ALL the people trying to get in..."
Leftism is truly an alternate reality.
Speaking of turning defensive, you will NOT believe what Terry McAwful told Hugh Hewitt yesterday: he predicts a 50 state landslide for Kerry and a Democratic Congress in November.
From Animal House Kevin Bacon "All is Well, Remain Calm!!!!!"
Democrats always throw their biggest hissy fits when claiming Republicans are using tactics they believe they have sole rights to. Like their Convention was some sort of honest workshop??
One of their cute little talking points currently is to refer to the convention as the "Republican National Deception".
The current Democratic Party embodies all the worst traits of the Baby Boomer genreation...including always expecting to get their way completely, and crying and name calling when they don't.
His only response has been to try and ban them, burn their book, put private detectives on them to dig up dirt on their private lives; all of which will/would/has blown up in his face as a major political candidate trashing citizen/soldiers, and proving the validity of their ad's message.
The Swifties have firmly established the ground rules.
The Swifties have even pre-empted any "apology" trial balloon with what would be an acceptable apology.
And Kerry can only sit and sweat over what the Swifties have yet to hit him with. At least 8-9 more ads, each one more damning than the first.
Swifties - over 30 years of steaming hot revenge being slowly shoved up Kerry's rear end on a weekly basis.
Kerry can hire all the Clintools he wants. They are only used to fighting political battles.
To the Swifties; this is no political battle.
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