Posted on 10/23/2004 12:26:56 PM PDT by Cedar
Media Watchdog Warns GOP Against Letting Up in Final Stretch
By Chad Groening
As the 2004 presidential campaign moves into its final stages, one media expert says the liberal media is likely to keep hammering out its anti-Bush bias, relentlessly, all the way up to election day.
Tim Graham is the director of media research analysis for the Alexandria, Virginia-based Media Research Center. He believes George W. Bush, if he truly hopes to be re-elected, will have to overcome not only John Kerry but also the liberal media as well.
"I think obviously it's in the interest of Bush and the Republicans to run scared every day on these issues," Graham says, "and to keep pounding their message. The problem you're going to have there, of course, is the liberal media's going to pound their anti-Bush message all the way alongside them."
The media analyst suspects some Republicans may be a bit too relaxed, perhaps because they are thinking about 1980, when Ronald Reagan pulled off a landslide victory in a race the polls predicted would be a close one. "You'll remember that late in the 1980 campaign, it was seen as a very even race and ended up breaking for Reagan in a dramatic way," Graham notes. "I'm sure that Republicans like the idea even though Reagan was the challenger then and Bush is the incumbent [now]."
The media watchdog says certainly some Republicans are enamored of the idea "that somehow Bush is going to reopen that six- or seven- or eight-point lead and just take it home," but he warns, "We can't predict that."
Graham says Republicans must not forget what happened to Bush four years ago, when news of a 1970s DUI arrest broke just days before the election. "The Democrats at the last minute sprung this whole 'nonpartisan' attack about George W. Bush's running under the 'intoxication ticket' in the mid-70s in Maine, where he was driving around at the dangerous speed of 20 miles an hour."
The MRC spokesman is advising the GOP not to be overconfident. Instead, Graham feels it would be in the best interests of the Republicans and the Bush campaign to stay cautious, be wary of possible last-minute Democratic strategies, and keep driving home their own message -- because, he says, that is what the liberal media will be doing.
© 2004 AgapePress all rights reserved.
Just thought this article might be a good reminder.
Well... I'm not relaxed... at all.
I'm PUMPED! I will be campaigning my a** off everyday till Nov. 3!!!
My goodness gracious, who the HECK ever thought that Republicans are relaxed??????????????? Just because we're feeling a little better by some of the polls doesn't mean we're not going to get out there and vote early and often. ;)
Jeeeez.
We KNOW it's necessary. The Dems and the Leftwing media are not going to let up ... not even after Nov 2nd. Why should we? Still ... I am feeling a little more confident that, IF we all get out and do our duty, Bush wins.
He may have been reading FR here where lately "landslide" and "blowout" have become common terms.
I going to vote regardless of what I hear in the news.
Either i.e : RAIN , SNOW , SHINE , VOTER INTEMIDATION , MSM DECLAIRS KERRY THE WINNER, I AM STILL VOTING FOR BUSH.
I'm no expert, but I'd say this guy has it wrong. The liberal media is not going to stop "hammering out its anti-Bush bias" the day the election is over.
Accordingto a couple ofbloggers, the Dems will bring again a stroy regarding Bush's National Guard story, it suppose to be unflattering. However, I believe that that is a dead horse already.
I'm not relaxed. I'm even dreaming about November 2. Last night I had a dream that I was trying to make it to the Republican Party here in Denver but couldn't find out where it was. I was going to the party with Al Sharpton--what the heck does that mean.
Last night I read a story about them questioning his volunteer service with low income kids. It was the National Guard story all over again only using the volunteer story instead.
Don't know about where y'all live, but the early voting here has long lines.
Even today one of the Repub. volunteers on the phone said it took his wife and daughter two hours to vote today.
My elderly aunt saw the lines yesterday and said she just couldn't even sit in a chair that long (while I waited in line for her place).
So I'm trying to get a last-minute absentee ballot for her. Hopefully by faxing we can get the request in.
"I was going to the party with Al Sharpton--what the heck does that mean."
Maybe just a nightmare?
I am hoping for two things to happen November 3.
1. Bush wins reelection
2. MSM has their WH media credentials pulled
I will then be happy.
I will be thrilled with a re-election.
The MSM has lost quite a bit of respect just in the last several months. Partial victory on that one.
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