Kerry's Best Strategy

[welshTerrier2]

pancake breakfasts, chili dinners and the lame format of the debates will not make up the ground Kerry needs to make up ... these are all necessary and valuable ways of getting our his message but he needs more ...

my solution?

Kerry should immediately challenge every democratic candidate, Dean included, to one-on-one debates ... i'd pay serious money to see many of the debates ... it would be great to see Kerry go head to head with Clark, Dean, Kucinich and any of the others too ... and it wouldn't just benefit Kerry ... it could bring some excellent attention to all the campaigns ...

there's not enough depth provided from the 9 candidate debate format ...

Kerry is way behind in N.H. ... he needs to change the campaign dynamic NOW !!!

I wonder which candidates would, and would not, accept such a challenge ... Dean might feel he shouldn't take the risk but it's not so easy to back down from a direct challenge ... the "rose garden" strategy, i.e. hiding from engaging your opponents, is not often very well received by the voters ...

Comments ???????????

[molly]

1. Kerry did challenge Dean - Dean refused

and it seemed to be OK with everyone? WHY? Kerry can debate anyone - anytime - anywhere. That does not indicate that he is wrong - it simply indicates that he can get the facts out.

[welshTerrier2]

3. He Needs To Challenge All the Others .. Not Just Dean

If Dean refused to participate while all the others are holding debates, Dean would be in a much tougher position ...

Right now, Dean can easily brush aside Kerry's challenge saying that it wouldn't be fair to exclude all the other candidates ... not so easy, though, if he were the only one refusing to participate ... then it's not a question of fairness ... it's just plain old hiding ...

[Sensitivity]

10. WHY IS DEAN NOT AGREEING TO DEBATE

I think Dean is great. But Kerry seems pretty good as well.
Does anyone know why we can't have a Kerry/Dean debate?

[Monte Carlo]

2. I would love to see Kerry debate any one of them.

Or, more generally, more one-on-one debates between the Democratic candidates. You're right; the 9-participant debate format they have going now are good sparingly, but they just don't get the depth that a one-on-one debate would reach.

I think most of all I'd like to see Kerry debate Clark. They both strike me as very intelligent and well-speaking men who know where they stand and can defend themselves in front of tough crowds. I think we'd see a lot of finer points of policy behind highlighted and discussed.

[IronLionZion]

4. or he could fire up the grass roots

the way Dean and Clark are. He's got a great platform and speaks well. If only he can relate to the people. He doesn't seem to have the energy or will to fight.

But one-on-one debates would be great. I can't wait until the nominee slaughters Bush alive in the debates. AWOL boy gonna get his ass handed too him!

[delete_bush]

5. Don’t hold your breath…

Although I agree and would love to see a 3 candidate debate between Kerry-Dean-Clark, or maybe also Gephardt. After watching last night’s debate there is just too much valuable time taken by the minor candidates.

After Gore’s anointing of Dean we really need some serious debate time IMO because in 2004 it might just come down to the presidential debates.

We all know shrub is a dolt but nonetheless with enough prep and canned answers and the right format he might come away from the debates looking only moderately stupid.

Our candidate doesn’t have to out debate the chimp, that’s a given, but he does have to inspire confidence and look presidential to get the swing voters.

This is where Kerry shines, and Clark doesn’t do half bad either. Dean concerns me in this area.

[welshTerrier2]

6. Surprising Silence from the Deanies ??

I would be very interested to know whether the Dean supporters on DU would want to see Dean agree to debate Kerry, and Clark, and perhaps others, in a one-on-one format ...

It sure got quiet in here ...

[Mass_Liberal]

7. I would be interested

in seeing Dean debate Kerry, sure. They are both great guys who, unfortunetly, hate eachother. I wish they could make peace.

Peace. Mmmm.

[robsul82]

9. Dean would win. Know why?

Look at the debate before last. Given enough Kerry usage of "ANSWER THE QUESTION!", the audience would laugh at him, and Dean would have to do nothing more than let Kerry go down in flames.

Later.

RJS

[DrFunkenstein]

11. Please - Kerry Would Kick Dean's Ass Up And Down Sloganeering Lane

Dean is good when he is alone. Remember that part of the report card, "Doesn't work well with others?" Dean has flubbed every major interview he has been in, from Russert to Rose to Stephanopoulus. At debates, the best he has ever done is "not lost." Which is hardly impressive with 9 on the stage and no format for extended debate.

[welshTerrier2]

13. This is the essence of what's wrong here

i had hoped we wouldn't wander off into the futile land of "my candidate's better than yours" ...

however, having said that, whether you're for Dean or not, something has really gone wrong with our process ... according to the polls, we have a candidate who can claim frontrunner status ... but we've never had a chance to see him in a head-to-head debate with any of his opponents ...

the best test is one that enables you to most accurately assess the test taker's abilities to perform a specific task ... we're taking a huge risk if we're willing to nominate anyone without a real trial by fire ...

if Dean is genuinely the most solid candidate, he should have nothing to fear ... and sharpening skills in a series of real debates can only make the eventual nominee that much more effective ...

[welshTerrier2]

12. Not Responsive !!

The question was not who would win but rather would Dean agree to debate Kerry and would Dean supporters encourage him to do so ...

[JVS]

8. I think he should grow 5 days worth of stubble and harangue each candidate

while taking swigs from a bottle of Jack Daniels and wearing one of those sleeveless "wife-beater" undershirts. This will help him reconnect with the common man and would also make for very interesting viewing. :-)

[KFC]

15. Oh Yes

And grow a quick mullet. I would damn sure tune in.

[quaker bill]

14. Personally

I see no point in Dean agreeing to this. These people play this game for keeps. Kerry is well behind and faltering. Dean is far better off spending his time speaking to the public and rallying his supporters. I would encourage him to continue to do so.

I know 'thats not fair', but then who ever promised it would be?

[genius]

16. Nonstop commercials with Dean's own words showing him to be

a liar.

[Sensitivity]

17. Dems Have to Avoid Negative Ads-- Bush will Use Them Later

We should listen to Al gore and follow the 11th Commandment.

[welshTerrier2]

18. I don't like this either

i think negative ads by a dem about a dem would be counterproductive ... the goal should not be to tear Dean down ...

the goal should be to test him ... either he can handle it or he can't ... we're, at least according to the polls, prepared to annoint Dean as our party's leader ... and we're never seen him go head-to-head with any of the other candidates ...

the goal is not to tear him down ... the goal is to weed him out if he's not up to the challenge or toughen him up some if he is ...

[Terwilliger]

19. I also like the idea of informal debates with 2 or 3 candidates

sounds like a good way to focus some differences