Impact Of Tape On Race Is Uncertain

Washington Post ^ | October 30, 2004 | Dana Milbank with Charles Babington and Jim VandeHei and political researcher Brian Faler

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Clearly, the bin Laden cameo in the 2004 presidential race has the potential to cut both ways. Weighing in Bush's favor is that Americans have typically rallied around the president when they have felt threatened, and bin Laden's tape is menacing. Also, the fact that bin Laden was making his presence known through a videotape rather than through a Madrid-style attack could be seen as evidence that Bush had done his job of protecting the public.

.....This time, it was Kerry's side urging television networks to be cautious in playing the tape.

"If you've got Osama back on the scene talking about 9/11 but not making an attack, it could be the best of both worlds" for Bush, said Republican strategist Jeff Bell. "It's good for Bush, the fact that [bin Laden] hasn't been able to attack, except for verbally."

Kerry aides appeared visibly alarmed aboard the candidate's plane as they planned a response to the tape's airing. One prominent Democrat speculated that for swing voters who have not followed the election closely, bin Laden's reappearance may well boost Bush.

.... the bin Laden appearance may reinforce some of Kerry's arguments. Bin Laden practically quoted Kerry when he said "Bush is still deceiving you and hiding the truth from you," and he seemed to be familiar with the liberal filmmaker Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11" and its mockery of Bush for reading "My Pet Goat" with children while the World Trade Center towers burned....

....Mike McCurry appeared unusually somber as he told reporters that the candidate would proceed with the campaign as if the tape had not appeared. "It's very important for us to move forward. ...

[SkyPilot]

CW,

It is not "uncertain"---Kerry is in a panic.

[latina4dubya]

Just because I'm a little down and might need some encouragement.

you seem to be down all the time and in need of tons of encouragement...

[endthematrix]

CRONKITE: What we just heard. So now the question is basically right now, how will this affect the election? And I have a feeling that it could tilt the election a bit. In fact, I'm a little inclined to think that Karl Rove, the political manager at the White House, who is a very clever man, he probably set up bin Laden to this thing. The advantage to the Republican side is to get rid of, as a principal subject of the campaigns right now, get rid of the whole problem of the al Qaqaa explosive dump. Right now, that, the last couple of days, has, I think, upset the Republican campaign.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1262365/posts?page=17#17

[Fenris6]

Micheal Moore & Terry McCauliff should bill Osama for being advisors.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I know!

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites), D-Mass., listens on his campaign plane during a stop in Miami on Friday, Oct. 29, 2004. (AP Photo/Laura Rauch)

[nopardons]

Same DNC talking points as the AP article about this spewed.Both are dead wrong and all of shilling for Kerry,using this tape,is NOT going to work at all.

[ohCompGk]

There is nothing -- I repeat, nothing -- uncertain about the impact of this tape on the election.

Agreed. We've been shocked back into the war and America is being given a choice of fighting it or walking away. As a general rule, most of us Americans will react like a Texan, roundhouse to the chin.

[dixiechick2000]

Maybe I didn't understand what you were saying.
If so, I apologize.

There is absolutely no reason to be down!
Things are going our way!
The Kerry Kamp is in meltdown.

And, you are, absolutely, welcome here. ;o)
I apologize for not checking your sign up date.
There are a lot of trolls here because of the election.

[Prophet in the Wilderess]

let's see how much the DUs , Kerry, and the DEMOCRATS step in horse doo on this one, trying to PROVE IT.

[PowerPro]

Well it is just the remake of Fahrenheit 911 with a tall skinny guy playing the part of the short fat guy.

That's hilarious... ROFL

[soundandvision]

Cronkite is SENILE.

[cccellar]

IT's not a problem. I apologize. I will try to be more up! We are on the same side. Go Bush
Blessings, Robin

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I am trying to *think* like an undecided voter (maybe even a Bush "hater") and I have to tell you nopardons, this puts me squarely in Bush's camp.

[MaryJaneNC]

WHAT?
I did notice Walter was on LKL...and he sounds like Kerry himself. I have never liked Walter Cronkite....he is such a socialist.
All the pundits...talking and assuming so much.
I don't think people were impressed one way or the other with the Osama tape. Yawn. What's new? zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[midftfan]

The reappearance of OBL puts the war on terrorism front and center in this campaign, and it clearly has the Kerry people rattled. It's another reminder we live in trying times, and that it would be suicidal for this country to put in a weak man like Senator Kerry into the White House. Spin all you want Dems, but this is the end of Kerry's White House bid.

[Jack Deth]

True, SkyPilot:

The hornets' nest has been shaken up and dropped in Kerry's lap.

I wonder how long his pseudo-macho act will hold up?

My guess...

Not through the weekend.

Jack.

[Nasher]

"It's very important for us to move forward..."

Sounds to me like the sKerry camp wishes this tape never came out.

They know that it sways the people who are softly leaning sKerry towards Bush. These people are going to vote Bush (even if they have objections to his domestic policy) over an unproven JFK who makes them nervous with his constant indecisivness.

[Prophet in the Wilderess]

CRONKITE ? TAKE YOUR MEDS and SHUT YOUR MOUTH , we don't need a SENIAL OLD MAN TO GET INTO THIS POLITCAL HOT BED UNTIL WE GET ALL OF THE FACTS.

[Flydatflag]

Excellent timing Osama. He came out like a politician. America has to wake up and realize the danger is not over. He even plugged his support for Bush's re-election when he admitted the disruption in his goals, caused by this president's administration. What a guy! Maybe he's still with the CIA and took the blame for 9/11 even though it was Saddam who ordered the whole thing with the help of Putin and Chirac. Wow, that's a mouthful!

[the Real fifi]

Uncertain to CBS and Dana Milbank, maybe, but not to me or anyone with enough neurons to make a synapse.