[jamesm51]

He's reaching for a base that is a lot smaller than he thinks it is - the lunatic left.

[Recovering_Democrat]

You know what else is amazing about this article: it details how much his fellow Senators think he's a poor strategist and a dolt--but these people ALL were singing his praises, wanting him to be Chief Executive!!

Clearly, they cared more about getting Kerry out of the Senate than they care about giving the American people a strong leader.

Typical of 'rats.

[billhilly]

I like your conclusion. See my tag line.

[Common Tator]

Just in case anyone failed to notice Gore got more Votes than Bush in 200 and came with in 1000 votes of wining. Bush Defeated Kerry in 2004 but Kerry came within 61 thousand votes of defeating bush.

Those that hink the democrat base is a small minority of voters are only lying to themselves or they can't read election returns. Ohio has been trending democratic. Gore lost by 5 or 6 points in 2000, Kerry lost it by less than one point in 2004. The state is quite likely to go into the Demoratic columm in 2006. If Bush could barely beat kerry in ohio in 2004, how can a far more conservative Blackwell be expected to beat a Ted Strictland in 2006.

John Kerry knows that his desire to get the Democratic nomination for presidnet in 2006 does not depend on what his fellow Democratic Senators want or think. The key, as Kerry is surely aware, lies with getting the Demoratic Base's votes in the 2008 primaries. Presidential nominations are always decided by the party base. They are tired of Democrat candidates they see as being Republican light. They want a real liberal not a Democrat who says the era of big government is over and did end welfare as we knew it. The Democratic base is tired of DINOs like the clintons. They want a fighter who will fight Bush at every turn. That is what Kerry is trying to become.

There is ample evidence that the Democratic base does not want Hillary and her triangulation. It is clear the Democratic base wants a candidate that will stand up and fight .. to the last man. They do not want a candidate who will be Ronald Reagan or George W. Bush lite. The Democratic base wants a true liberal who will fight eveything Republican.

The "go along to get along group" in the Democratic party are not motivated by winning the Democratic nomination for president. They are motivated by getting reelected to the Senate. That means pandering to a majority of voters. A majority of voters and the Demoratic base are not in agreement on much.

When ever Kerry is confronted with the choice of pandering to the Democratic base or doing what a majority of voters want, Kerry will pick pandering to the base. Other senators are well aware of what and why Kerry is doing what he is doing.

Democratic Senators are concerned that in trying to achieve his goal, Kerry may cost them theirs.

He may very well. But Kerry could Ker less.