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A Trailing Kerry Has Been There, Won That
Los Angeles Times ^ | September 6, 2004 | Mark Z. Barabak

Posted on 09/06/2004 4:39:18 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife

BOSTON — John F. Kerry has been here before.

Turning into the final eight weeks of the presidential campaign, the Democratic nominee faces doubts within his party and pundits increasingly skeptical of his chances against a resurgent President Bush, who seems to have momentum heading his way.

It is reminiscent of the Democratic race last winter, when Kerry was counted among the living dead and former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean was romping to the Democratic nomination — or so it appeared.

But there is another contest that may be instructive, a campaign that political connoisseurs rate as one of the all-time classics: the 1996 U.S. Senate race between Kerry and Massachusetts' popular Republican governor, William F. Weld.

.....Although no election is like any other, the close-quarters combat of that Senate race offers clues to how the Democratic nominee operates under pressure, the steps he will take to win — and suggests why Democrats, nervous as some may be, are counting on another Kerry comeback.

With his reelection bid lagging — polls had Kerry trailing Weld in August by 8 percentage points — the senator abruptly shed one of his top aides and replaced him with a pugnacious ad man who crafted a more partisan message emphasizing pocketbook issues. Kerry worked to overcome his stuffy reputation by revealing a more personal and humble side to voters. He dug into his wallet even though it meant ignoring the spending limits he originally agreed to abide by. And he fiercely defended his Vietnam War record when his credibility was called into question.

Each was identical to steps Kerry would take years later as he rallied from behind to capture the Democratic presidential nomination and, more recently, fend off charges he exaggerated his Vietnam combat record.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: campaign; kansas; kerry; toto; vietnam; worrieddems
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To: xtinct

Are you sure your jury call came from voter registration? It used to be that way here in California, but years ago it changed to drivers license holders.


41 posted on 09/06/2004 6:03:37 AM PDT by Not gonna take it anymore (". . . stability cannot be purchased at the expense of liberty.")
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Dean imploded in a manic moment. Bush isn't likely to do that.


42 posted on 09/06/2004 6:04:44 AM PDT by jerod
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
"He's at his best when he's cornered," said Paul Watanabe, a political scientist at the University of Massachusetts.

   One comeback qualifies someone to be President?

   Wasn't it dishonorable to break the agreement with Weld?

   Do we want a President who needs a crisis to perform well?

43 posted on 09/06/2004 6:05:21 AM PDT by dano1
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To: dano1

There are no pluses in Kerry's leadership column.


44 posted on 09/06/2004 6:07:14 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
With his reelection bid lagging — polls had Kerry trailing Weld in August by 8 percentage points

Notice he was the incumbent in that race. Not so here and as the others have pointed out, he's not running in Mass. I admit I'm somewhat concerned with Clinton's hatchet squad coming aboard but doesn't this show *EXACTLY* why Kerry's *wrong* for the job? He can't even run a successful campaign without swapping teams or begging someone for advice. These are *not* earmarks of the kind of *LEADERSHIP* we need or can AFFORD at this time.

45 posted on 09/06/2004 6:08:58 AM PDT by newzjunkey (Why are we in Iraq? Just point the whiners here: http://www.massgraves.info)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

more pipe dreams from the left...where do they get that weed....


46 posted on 09/06/2004 6:11:39 AM PDT by The Wizard (DemonRATS: enemies of America)
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To: danamco
What about the AOL Poll: 267857 questioned = 173703 to W. or = 65%. sKerry 91776 = 34%. Current Electoral Vote Estimates: W = 535. sKerry = 3 ???

IMHO, other than showing a trend among a limited and unidentified group of participants, an internet poll is meaningless---followed respectively by the polls of "adults" and "registered voters".

The poll results that matter are those from "likely" voters---the folks who actually went out and voted in the last two elections and who will most "likely" do it again on Nov. 2.

47 posted on 09/06/2004 6:15:43 AM PDT by Right_in_Virginia
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To: The Wizard

They forget that Kerry did not win-Dean self-destructed-Bush will not self-destruct


48 posted on 09/06/2004 6:16:45 AM PDT by ground_fog
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

"...when Kerry was counted among the living dead..."

No wonder Kerry is considered such a pain in the neck.

Does Kerry take along a coffin with his native earth, to sleep in?


49 posted on 09/06/2004 6:18:58 AM PDT by punster
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Yeah, he brought in a bunch of his sycophant war buddies to lie for him. It won't wash this time. We got the Swiftboat vets to thank for that. Besides, the country is NOT Massachusetts


50 posted on 09/06/2004 6:19:58 AM PDT by Casloy (qs)
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To: Dog

Kerry's not going anywhere. My friend's wife is a democrat. Just a regular democrat. Her and her friends don't like Kerry. They are not voting this year.


51 posted on 09/06/2004 6:21:40 AM PDT by BobS
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To: danamco

The river boat guys are not finished.


52 posted on 09/06/2004 6:26:42 AM PDT by BobS
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

First, Democrats outnumber Republicans in Massachusetts about 3 to 1. Second, Kerry has finished "strong" by maligning his opponents. [Notice the new Kitty Kelly book claiming Bush is a drugger.]

Anyone who reads Unfit for Command will see that Kerry is an empty suit.


53 posted on 09/06/2004 6:30:23 AM PDT by Lunkhead_01
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To: xtinct

That's an enormous percentage of non-citizens! It is also illegal. What were the courts doing about reporting these noncitizens to the INS?


54 posted on 09/06/2004 6:38:46 AM PDT by alwaysconservative (Ambien and Sominex not available? Listen to the pedantic, pompous sKerry awhile.)
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To: Lunkhead_01

Bush probably has anticipated Kerry's pattern and is setting the next trap. Clinton only really did a good job of electing himself. He's propping up a stiff here not the best liar around. Go ask Kerrey about that.


55 posted on 09/06/2004 6:40:15 AM PDT by Thebaddog (Woof if you love America!)
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To: Right_in_Virginia
Why do I have this feeling those two polls....Time and Newsweek werea set up.....that will show a Kerry comeback in the weeks to come

Yup. It's the same way the MSM helped Kerry through the primaries.

Don't be surprised if this is how it plays out.

56 posted on 09/06/2004 6:43:22 AM PDT by Terp (Retired living in Philippines were the Mountains meet the Sea in the Land of Smiles)
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To: LS
Now, did you have to bring that up.
57 posted on 09/06/2004 6:52:00 AM PDT by fhayek (Spitball veteran for Bush)
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To: Dog

"Why do I have this feeling those two polls....Time and Newsweek werea set up.....that will show a Kerry comeback in the weeks to come"


Because you are right. The best way to get a grasp on the bounces and changes is to just watch one poll. Even if the actual numbers are off, the changes in those poles will reflect the momentum.

The Rasmussen people gave Bush a 6-7 point bounce and ultimately a 4-5 point lead. No more. This makes sense based on what has consistently been said about voters having already made up their minds.

My prediction: we are back to 47/47 by the debates. The outcome of the debates will make the difference barring an October surprise.

This is why it is still so important not to gloat in overconfidence about our touchdown while we give the other team the chance to take the ball down the field.


58 posted on 09/06/2004 7:06:51 AM PDT by Einigkeit_Recht_Freiheit (Tax Energy not Labor)
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To: Right_in_Virginia

That's beautiful.


59 posted on 09/06/2004 7:09:22 AM PDT by Beckwith (Did Kerry commit murder in Viet Nam?)
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To: BobS

The river boat guys are not finished.



Yeah, they will soon be on their way up in the Mississippi River to the tune of "Old Man River"!!!


60 posted on 09/06/2004 7:32:21 AM PDT by danamco
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