Kerry Finds Himself In Enviable Position - WSJ

[question everything]

(snip)

John Kerry woke up Wednesday in stronger political condition at this stage of the campaign than any Democratic challenger of the past two decades. His surprising array of assets includes unity within a normally fractious party, a positive introduction to the American public and a narrow national lead over President Bush.

(snip)

That doesn't mean Mr. Kerry will avoid big bumps in the political road during the eight months until the November election. His national image, though largely favorable, isn't well-defined. His stump style -- sometimes rambling and uninspired -- can turn off listeners. And a Bush-Cheney team with $100 million to spend after weeks on the campaign sidelines already is trying to paint the onetime Vietnam War hero as a timid Washington politician who trims his sails in response to shifts in public opinion.

(snip)


All three of those men trailed their Republican general-election opponents in early-March polls. Mr. Kerry, by contrast, has pulled ahead of Mr. Bush in several national surveys on the strength of solid support from the Democratic rank-and-file.

(snip)

Mr. McAuliffe can claim part of the credit for designing a front-loaded primary calendar that, as he intended, rapidly produced a general-election candidate. But party leaders also may have benefited from sheer good fortune. Only two months ago, that calendar seemed likely to elevate feisty former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, who inspired liberal voters but alienated some party leaders.

Now, after his own political collapse, Mr. Dean is pledging to help Mr. Kerry stave off defections to third-party candidates such as Ralph Nader. By contrast, Mr. Bush faces rising complaints from his conservative base over the $500 billion annual budget deficit, a major expansion of Medicare and his proposal for easing immigration laws. Last week, the president used the White House as a backdrop for courting the Republican right by declaring his support for a constitutional amendment barring gay marriage.

"Instead of moving to the middle, where elections are won, he's moving to the right," says Steve McMahon, Mr. Dean's media consultant.

One of Mr. Kerry's challenges between now and the Democratic National Convention in July is remaining in the headlines while also preserving the party unity that has lifted him so far. Some campaign advisers want him to name a running mate within weeks to spark attention and help raise money to combat Mr. Bush's financial edge. Moving to begin the process quickly, the campaign announced Wednesday that Jim Johnson -- a Democratic Party veteran and former chairman of mortgage giant Fannie Mae -- would head the vice-presidential search.

*snip)

It also is persistently weak jobs market that fuels Mr. Kerry's economic message and offsets Republican attacks on other issues. Democrats have grown especially optimistic about making gains in pivotal Midwest battlegrounds."I'm sitting here in Chicago," says Mr. Edwards's Illinois media consultant, David Axelrod, "and I see nothing but opportunity in every direction."

[BabsSong]

1. I see opportunity and something else

For the first time, including Gore's campaign, I see that the fields are fertile all over this country (especially the MidWest)for people to actually be frightened enough to listen. But more importantly, I am sensing that this campaign is not going to be one of sighs and weaknesses. Kerry is not going to let George get out in front of him. We have the ammo; I sense this time we are not going to open the cartridge and dump the gunpowder out.

[Killarney]

2. I think a big difference between now and 2000

in addition to more unity is that we have learned that we have to respond to all attacks. Don't assume the public will look at the transcript and see that you didn't say you invented the internet. Al Gore didn't stand up for himself enough. Kerry has already showed that every time Bush attacks, he will fight back.

We can win this.

I have never wanted a man out of the White House so bad in my life.

[NicRic]

4. Me too !

I never thought i could dislike any President more then Regan and Bush 1 . I was wrong bush jr. must go ,he never won and hopefully never will. This is one inaguration I will watch with glee as the arrogant bush ,has to sit on the stage and watch Kerry being sworn in ,or will he stay true to himself and go home to crawford tx to cry in his beer !

[question everything]

3. "All three" referred to Mondale, Dukakis, Clinton

Sorry. I thought that I added them in square brackets but this may be a formatting command...

[nostamj]

5. square brackets will make the text disappear

you can use angle brackets <text>

square brackets are used for HTML tags:

[b]this is bold text[/b]