Bush's strategy

The Washington Times ^ | 10/20/04 | Greg Pierce

[Pfesser]

"With only two weeks to go, President Bush and his campaign demonstrated once again that they are playing chess while Kerry is playing checkers," Dick Morris writes in the New York Post.

"In a feat of strategy worthy of the greatest admiration, they realized that the entire race would change complexion once the third debate kindled a focus on domestic disagreements in what had been, until then, a foreign-policy contest," Mr. Morris said.

"Knowing that Kerry — or any Democrat — has an advantage in a contest over domestic policy, they prepared for a parry during and after the third debate, which has given their candidate the lead once again."

"By declaring in the third debate that Kerry inhabits the far left bank of our politics, well away from the mainstream, Bush hit pay dirt.

"Knowing that Kerry would seek to win the domestic issues by promising the moon, Bush, in great jujitsu style, used the Democrat's strength against him, coming around his right flank, adding up the cost of the promises and underscoring his adversary's liberalism. ...

"The beauty of the Bush attack is that it is fueled as much by Kerry's proposals as by the Republican jabs. With every new speech, Kerry shows his liberalism and makes promises that dig him an ever deeper hole. Should he try to tack to the right to rebut the accusation, he will run into the old charge of flip-flopper and rekindle doubts about his ability to stick to a position."

[Pfesser]

A little more from Inside Politics
Kerry's performance
"John Kerry wasn't nominated because of his sparkling personality. He wasn't nominated because of his selfless commitment to causes larger than himself. He was nominated because he's a fighter," New York Times columnist David Brooks writes.

"At the end of every campaign, he comes out brawling. This was the guy who could take on Bush," Mr. Brooks said.

"So nobody could imagine how incompetent, crude and over-the-top Kerry has been in this final phase of the campaign. At this point, smart candidates are launching attacks that play up the doubts voters already have about their opponents. Incredibly, Kerry is launching attacks that play up doubts voters have about him. Over the past few days, he has underscored the feeling that he will say or do anything to further his career.

"In so doing, he has managed to squelch any momentum he may have had coming out of the first two debates. Some polls have him stagnant against Bush. More polls show Bush recovering from the debate season and now pulling slightly ahead. The blunt truth is that Kerry is losing the final phase of this campaign."

[thingumbob]

"So nobody could imagine how incompetent, crude and over-the-top Kerry has been in this final phase of the campaign. At this point, smart candidates are launching attacks that play up the doubts voters already have about their opponents.

That's because it takes time to develop "nuance".

Tick, tick, tick,........time is running out!

[teletech]

I sure hope this strategy works!

Does the average voter look at what is promised them or the cost of that promise? When you think someone else will pay for it you look at the former. It worked for Clinton TWICE!