GOP Campaign Strategists Turn Focus on Kerry

[Karmadillo]

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-gop24jan24,1,2408749.story?coll=la-home-politics

WASHINGTON — For months, Republican strategists have talked with ill-concealed glee about the prospect that former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean might quickly win the Democratic presidential nomination — a scenario they relished not only because they thought President Bush could defeat Dean in the fall, but also for the bare-knuckled ideological combat such a matchup would afford.

But this week, the GOP's campaign planners were abruptly forced to turn their sights on the Democratic race's new frontrunner, Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) — and at least some of them suggested that he might be tougher for Bush to beat.

"He is a very competent leader," one Bush campaign strategist said Friday, speaking on condition that he not be identified. "He has demonstrated that he can win elections. Obviously, he's a seasoned politician."

Dean "had assets and liabilities too," the campaign official said. But he spoke pointedly of Dean in the past tense — and of Kerry in the present. "I think it would be difficult to reemerge," he said. "Once the public gets buyer's remorse, it's very difficult for them to go back."

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[dusty64]

1. Interesting!

I've heard the rethugs want this candidate and fear that one so many times I don't know what to believe anymore. Each has their positives and negatives and I can't honestly answer the question of which is the most "electable".

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

2. That, my friend...

Is the way they want the game played. Keep us on the ropes, covered up in confusion, unable to discern which candidate "they want".

Here's a Cluestick Moment: They don't want ANY Democratic Candidate who can clearly enumerate the manifold ways in which this maladministration has failed this nation egregiously. They don't want their ethical paucity exposed. They don't want Chimpy's military record(loosely termed) held up to any light. They don't want any candidate to distill the results of their executive orders and legislative initiatives down into easily-understood sentances for general consumption.

They want us to tear our guts out in the primaries and fragment the party in anger and resentment.

Some things to remember when you see "Good Democrats" throwing rhetorical bombs at other Democrats.

[lastknowngood]

3. Great place to get

your campaign strategy, I'm sure they wouldn't lie.

[dusty64]

5. These unnamed

strategists serve to confuse further, do these "people" have any credibility. I guess I'm forced to go with my gut feelings of who I like personally and forget what others are saying.

[FreeperSlayer]

4. ABB!

[JI7]

6. their whole thing was kerry is like dukakis, ted kennedy, etc

their whole thing was that kerry is a left wing liberal as dukakis, ted kennedy, etc, if not even more liberal.

[JI7]

7. i think this is why

they are trying to go after him on his private life, which didn't work with clinton and certainly wont work now.

[bigtree]

8. They would do better thinking up excuses for why Bush broke our country

than trying to tear these guys down.

I agree with this republican hack that John Kerry is a competent leader who will put Bush on his heels. But I think if Gov. Dean does "reemerge", he will make Bush cry just as hard.