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."
Without knowing anything more about communism than the fact that it requires the denial of the existence of God in order to exalt man the ignorance of this statement is exposed.
I'm sure Saddam Hussein can spare Baghdad Bob. Anything for the cause ...
You know, that's exactly right. The DNC Convention was a Kerry makeover. Kerry is a total Phoney! Bush and company are the real deal. Arnold did a FINE job last night, imho.My brother is a native Texan, but has lived out in California for years. He called me this morning ever so proud of Arnold's speech last night. It WAS great. I really got a kick out of his "Economic Girly-man" comment ! hahaha!
Cemetaries are in good shape too...look at ALL the people dying to get in. LOL! Sorry, couldn't resist...
The dead already vote demonrat....
The fact that alot of people are getting in to the campaign machinery indicates alot of rats jumping ship.
I seem to also remember that used car salesman they have running the DNC saying during the 2002 elections that defeating Jeb Bush was their top priority and that he was confident the businessman whose campaign they were pouring money into would win and vindicate their failure to steal Florida and the election in 2000.
Does anyone remember the name of that would-be-governor today? Does anyone care?
The sweetheart deal a crooked union fund manager made with McAuliffe to make him rich evidently went to his head, and has deluded him that he is really not just a sleazy loser.
Reeling the lifeboats back onto the deck, eh?
MR. RUSSERT: Terry McAuliffe predictions from 2002 on MEET THE PRESS: “I think we’re going to win the House back.” The Democrats last six seats. “We’re going to net seats in the Senate.” The Democrats lost two seats.
MR. McAULIFFE: Yeah.
MR. RUSSERT: And “We are going to win Florida [Governorship]...which is going to set up very nicely for 2004.”
MR. McAULIFFE: Yeah.
MR. RUSSERT: Jeb Bush is gone.
MR. McAULIFFE: Yeah.
MR. RUSSERT: One, two, three, all wrong.
MR. McAULIFFE: And I had to write $2,000 or $3,000 to The Boys and Girls Club of Washington. But, Tim, I am the national party chairman. I am not going to go on television, you know, three days before an election and say, “Oh, no, Tim. No, Mr. Russert, we’re not going to win these elections.” My job is the chief cheerleader of the party. We’re going to win everything. That’s my job. My other job is also to raise an awful lot of money. My main responsibility is to make sure the nominee of the Democratic Party is able to compete against what’s going to be three-quarters of a billion dollars against us. And we’re in the best shape our party has ever been in.
If you're so confident, Terry, why did Kerry have a rally last night? And speak out today?
For once, I hope McAwful is telling the truth. Let the existing Kerry team stay in place. Cahill has not a clue of who America is. We are not Massachusetts.
Revenge is a dish best served cold.
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