Terrorism alert could pose political peril for Republicans

Washington Times ^ | 6/26/02 | Ralph Z. Hallow

[kattracks]

Terrorism threatens to dominate American politics in ways never imagined before September 11, with the outcome of the November congressional elections perhaps hinging on a last-minute warning of a major terror attack, the authors of a bipartisan poll said yesterday.

[kattracks]

"I guess [the media] probably would [interpret the warning as a political gimmick], whether it was true or not," Mr. Goeas told reporters.

No doubt about it!

[Coop]

But the war and Mr. Bush's high job and personal approval ratings are creating unusual intensity among Republican voters, perhaps reversing the typical pattern.

I must confess to being a bit skeptical about this entire analysis when they do not even mention the incredibly motivating Jeffords effect on Republican voters. But it does make sense that terrorism is a double-edged sword for both parties.