Yepsen: In the ninth inning, Kerry looks to be a strong closer

[Feanorcurufinwe]

Dean's sagging poll numbers have put the entire premise of his campaign to a test: He has argued that he can win the White House by attracting millions of newcomers and disaffected voters, particularly young people, to his banner. Fair enough. All he needs to do in Iowa is attract several thousand. If he can't do that - after spending countless days, using thousands of volunteers and going through millions of dollars here - why should any other Democrat in the country think he can do it in a general election? Dean's big emphasis on the Internet also may not do much for him in Iowa because the poll says 61 percent of likely caucus-goers either don't have Internet access or don't get campaign information from it if they do. At this point, Dean must hope that pollsters have missed some of his young newcomers and that a hidden tidal wave will appear for him Monday night. It's possible.

<snip>

Kerry's the hottest candidate right now. On the stump, he's sharper, more focused and more relaxed than ever. He's picking up some support from fellow military veterans. Some Democrats seem to like his Washington experience over Dean's lack of the same. They also like a guy who has a combat record, a fact that would make him harder for Republicans to demonize.

Kerry seems to understand the first rule of Iowa caucus politics, as first articulated by former Congressman David Nagle of Waterloo. The "Nagle Rule" holds that you: "Organize, organize, organize. Then get hot at the end." Dean's organized, but got hot too early. Gephardt's organized, but "hot" has never been used as an adjective with "Gephardt." Edwards' caffeine intake is apparent in the candidate and his poll ratings, yet he lacks the organizational infrastructure built by the others.

Kerry's talented staff has built him a respectable organization, they've poured everything they have into Iowa and Kerry himself has never been sharper or more energized. If he were a baseball pitcher, they'd be calling Kerry a good closer.
http://desmoinesregister.com/opinion/stories/c5917686/23290016.html

[arewethereyet]

1. thats interesting

from the graph I saw it was Edwards with the more pronounced rise.

But Kerry does appear to hold the one run lead in the 9th and the ball is in his hand to get those alst three outs.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

3. Yes, but without the organization to back it up

[arewethereyet]

6. yes, if he needs the organization

sometimes people act on their own.

we'll know Tuesday.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

2. Swung on and belted! ---- Dave Niehaus

[Feanorcurufinwe]

4. lol, Zogby compared Kerry to Dennis Eckersly

so I'm just hoping there is no Kirk Gibson among the other candidates. ;)

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

5. Should have used this, then:

Kirk Gibson
1988 World Series
10-15-1988

"She is gone." - Vin Scully

[kerrygoddess]

7. I enjoyed this column from Yepsen and agreed with this:

"History teaches that Americans generally elect optimists to the White House, not angry people. History also teaches that winning Democratic presidential candidates have tended to be those seen as strong on defense and national security issues, not anti-war candidates."

[NewYorkerfromMass]

8. He's certainly pulling out the stops

and I'm crossing fingers here.