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The Kerry Campaign Needs A New Star
By Matt Margolis | May 29, 2004
The Kerry campaign would like to believe that Bush isn’t doing too well in the polls, and that his ad blitz on Kerry was ineffective, however, it is the Kerry campaign that is actually in some serious trouble – and the Democrats know this:
Top advisers to the Democratic presidential candidate, John Kerry, have asked Bill Clinton to play a starring role in the final months of the Massachusetts senator’s campaign.
Four years ago, in the wake of the Monica Lewinsky scandal, the former vice-president Al Gore distanced himself from Mr Clinton, during his race against George W Bush. But after heated internal discussions, the Kerry camp has decided that Mr Clinton’s personal charisma is needed to bolster the appeal of Sen Kerry, who has been accused of running a lacklustre campaign and failing to take advantage of President Bush’s problems in Iraq.
We’ve gone from Kerry needed a pro-life Republican on his ticket to boost his campaign, to enlisting Bill Clinton to stump for him in order to boost Kerry’s appeal.
Just what exactly is going on in the Kerry campaign? First McCain was Kerry’s savior, now it’s Clinton? Sounds like things aren’t going well at all for the Kerry campaign. If Kerry can’t be the star of his own campaign, than what does that say about him as a candidate?
“There has been talk about the danger of Bill Clinton overshadowing John,” said a senior Democrat last week, “but the decision has been taken to accept him as being centre stage and hope that some of the magic rubs off”.
Can Kerry not carry the water for his own campaign that it takes someone like Clinton to get Kerry votes? Clinton couldn’t boost the campaigns of Democrat candidates during the midterm elections – what makes Democrats think he’ll do magic for Kerry?
Adding to Kerry’s troubles, his own campaign staff sees him as an uninspiring lackluster candidate:
“I’ve never heard him tell a joke,” said one campaign worker at a Kerry fund-raising party last week.
“I’ve never seen him look as if he was genuinely enjoying himself. He just needs to come across as more human. If Clinton can help with that, then we sure need that help.”
The former New York governor, Mario Cuomo, still an influential figure in Democrat politics, has also advised Mr Kerry to exploit the Clinton factor.
“Whatever you can do to use Bill and Hillary, big time, use them. The sun that makes your plants grow and makes everybody strong and gives life to the world is so big that when it shows up everybody tends to notice it. So what? What do you get from the sun? You get nourishment. You get life.”
This is really bad news for the Kerry campaign. In the wake of 9-11, the American people want a leader – and Kerry isn’t cutting it and the Democrats know it.
The confident front put on the Kerry campaign can’t hide that this strategy of having Kerry’s surrogates attempt to win the election for him means that they know they’ve got a weak candidate.
Surrogates are supposed to campaign for you they’re not supposed to win the election for you.
To make matters even worse for Kerry, not all Democrats agree the Clinton can boost Kerry’s campaign – but rather detract from it:
At the Kerry campaign headquarters in Washington, some aides are less confident that their candidate can hold his own, if forced to share the stage this summer with the biggest star of Democratic politics during the past 25 years. “Al Gore made a mistake when he didn’t use Clinton,” said one campaign worker.
“John Kerry is not going to make that mistake. But he will need to be very careful. How many Democrats are going to look at Bill during the convention and think: he’s still the best candidate we have.”
The Kerry campaign is in real trouble.
Topics: John Kerry Watch |
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May 30th, 2004 at 1:17 am
I really value debates to show what news hardly ever shows, policy. Character has never proved to be that more important, there have been drunks, womanizers, and recluses in the White House and even then our country somehow got through another 4 years intact. The media’s fetish with analyzing the character of politicians makes their policies means of governing only secondary. Often those policies may not differ that much and I guess the difference between candiates has to be discerned in a place that is more tangible and recognizable.
May 30th, 2004 at 11:39 am
Keep telling yourself how worried the Democrats are and how badly Kerry is doing. It feels good, doesn’t it? String together a few anonymous quotes and faulty analysis, and it almost feels like you aren’t supporting another one-term Bush. Those scary polls don’t really mean that Bush is failing, do they?
May 30th, 2004 at 3:08 pm
Dude, it think it’s quite obvious the Dems know they have a weak candidate. ignoring this doesn’t help you one bit.
May 30th, 2004 at 4:09 pm
Dude - “it think it’s quite obvious” you ought to look at the election projections you link to on the right.
May 30th, 2004 at 4:22 pm
Dan, while i like Scott Elliott’s work at Election Projection, he uses his own formula which offers one look at the election, but not a definitive one. for instance, recent polls show Bush is ahead in Ohio, but EP shows it currently as a blue state. Bush has a commanding lead in Lousiana based on a current poll, but EP shows bush only has a weak hold on the state.. the only reason you are swearing by the election projection map is cuz right now its favoring Kerry.
May 30th, 2004 at 5:09 pm
Kerry is percieved as weak, its not he is weak. All media helps to create this perception. The indecision in his campaign stems from the fact if he preaches something too progressive or anti war he will alienate more voters than if he took a more moderate stance. So he appears to be a flip flopper. Bush has an aura of strength and resolve because he doesn’t have to convince his supporters and 3 years of the presidency have solidified his positions. Theres no indecision, he just has to attack his opponent. I reiterate that I value debates moreso than coverage of bike accidents and the more trivial campaign moves.
May 30th, 2004 at 5:15 pm
I’d like to believe the Kerry campaign is struggling. I’ll believe it when I see Kerry’s poll numbers drop like a rock. Until then we’d better keep pushing.
-jdm
May 30th, 2004 at 8:27 pm
Sweet
Kerry in trouble and Bill Clinton may be coming to his rescue? Why? Thought he wanted Hillary as President, well Hillary wants Hillary as President.
Hard to get excited about someone who comes across dead. Al Gore did that trick, wooden. Didn’t wor…
May 31st, 2004 at 9:31 am
I never really cared for Clinton, but he does attract cheering crowds wherever he goes, unlike Mr. “I-Only-Appear-In-Front-Of-Prescreened-Groups-Of-Supporters-And-Military-In-Uniform-While-I-Follow-The-Script”.
May 31st, 2004 at 3:39 pm
jeez, another conspiracy theory.. the pre-screened group of supporters B.S. is yet another sign of desperation of the left to attack bush with even the most stupid of false things.
May 31st, 2004 at 4:04 pm
Thats his opinion based on what kind of audience he sees attending Bush’s speeches. Its not a sign of desperation or conspiracy theory from the “left”, that kind of talk isn’t logical.