Bush poll strategist now backs Kerry

news.com.au ^ | 1 April 2007

[Aussie Dasher]

A MAN who played a key role in securing US President George W. Bush's re-election has become the first member of the president's inner circle to publicly break with the adminstration's policies.

Matthew Dowd, who was the president's chief campaign strategist in 2004, is insisting that Bush's 2004 rival, Democratic Senator John Kerry, was right on Iraq, The New York Times reported on its website.

The newspaper said Mr Dowd now says his faith in Mr Bush was misplaced and that Mr Kerry was correct in calling for a withdrawal from Iraq.

In a wide-ranging interview in Austin, Texas, Mr Dowd criticized the president as failing to call the nation to a shared sense of sacrifice at a time of war, failing to reach across the political divide to build consensus and ignoring the will of the people on Iraq, the report said.

He said he believed the President had not moved aggressively enough to hold anyone accountable for the abuses at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, and that Mr Bush still approached governing with a "my way or the highway" mentality reinforced by a shrinking circle of trusted aides, the paper said.

"If the American public says they're done with something, our leaders have to understand what they want," The Times quotes Mr Dowd as saying.

[Aussie Dasher]

Could we expect anything else from the NY bloody Times...???

[SolidWood]

Wow. A Poll strategist sure has to know a heck about foreign policy.

Jeez... Kerry lost. Get over it and thank God.

[Gorzaloon]

Could we expect anything else from the NY bloody Times...???

Thank heavens no one reads it...

[Erik Latranyi]

So a poll strategist for a man who is not running for President is now backing a man who is not running for President.

[richardtavor]

I talked to a secretary that works at the New York Times and she said that all of managment were commies! /sarc/ what a load of sheep dung...

[Kakaze]

"If the American public says they're done with something, our leaders have to understand what they want," The Times quotes Mr Dowd as saying.

This is why the Founders made us a Republic and NOT a direct democracy.

[Chgogal]

Looks like Dowd thinks the Dems will win the WH and wants a job.

"A former Democratic consultant, Matthew Dowd was the chief campaign strategist for Bush-Cheney 2004 and director of polling and media planning for Bush-Cheney 2000. "

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/architect/interviews/dowd.html

[pt17]

Dowd must be really hurting for a job.

[reasonisfaith]

How much did he go for?

[Racer1]

This situation isn't that hard to figure. Mr. Dowd or whatever his name and many like him in politics and the white collar world are mostly users. They use people and situations till it no longer serves there purpose then move on to the next place where the money is. Since President Bush is a lame duck president he must break to where he thinks is the best place for him to advance. Dowd is using the war and lost his confidence in the president as a way to make a clean break since thats what most dems want to hear right now.

[SHOOT THE MOON bat]

He must be the Republicans version of Dick Morris.

[stevem]

I've always thought most any pollster will back the policies of the guy who puts him on the payroll.

[white trash redneck]

Big yawn here. Dowd is a former 'Rat who signed onto the Bush campaign. Now he's just returning to his fellow travelers.

[SeeSalt]

Never trust the Dowdies...Maureen..Mathew etc.

[G Larry]

That's ok....Mrs. Heinz said she won't let him come out and play anymore.

[MNJohnnie]

Funny thing. In this story he supposed said every single media buzz word that the Junk media has been saying about Bush since 2004. So just who is Mr Dowd trying to get a job with? Pretty obvious he is whoring himself out to some "Think Tank" or "Media Outlet" when he mindless regugitates almost word for word the same twaddel Time and Newsweek has said in their last few "analysis" pieces on President Bush.

[Northern Yankee]

Former democratic consultant, and then chief strategist for Bush/Cheney, and now defecting once again?

Seems to be a pattern here.

[basil]

People should particularly beware of Austin Democrats who want to work for Republicans! Politics around Austin are really strange--.

It says something when a city's motto is: Keep Austin Weird".

[montag813]

Mr Dowd criticized the president as failing to call the nation to a shared sense of sacrifice at a time of war

That I do agree with. Bush's frequent silence during tough times has been most unhelpful. He very rarely takes the time to explain the war to Americans. And when he does, he mangles his words in a distracting manner.

[kabar]

Prior to the 2004 presidential campaign, Dowd served as Senior Advisor to the Republican National Committee, and as Director of Polling and Media Planning for the 2000 Bush for President Campaign. During the 2000 campaign, he managed all public-opinion efforts, and spearheaded the strategic targeting and execution of the campaign's almost $150-million advertising budget.

Previously, Matthew Dowd was President and founding partner of Public Strategies, Inc., an international public-affairs firm based in Austin. During his tenure there, Matthew helped former Texas Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock win election and re-election, acting as Bullock's chief campaign consultant. He was also a member of U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen's (D-Texas) senate and campaign staffs.