Amid the smiles, a slight snarl

[maddezmom]

Subtle shift in tone marks the campaign's final days
Monday, January 26, 2004

By DANIEL BARRICK
Monitor staff


Opinions are hardening, minds are being made up, and the window of opportunity is closing for the Democratic presidential candidates to woo undecided voters. With just one full day of campaigning left in New Hampshire, all of the contenders are making their best last pitch at that shrinking pool of unclaimed votes.

~snip~

Some recent attacks have been launched below voters' radar. Howard Dean's campaign last week gave reporters a collection of old news clips detailing Sen. John Kerry's fundraising activities and accusing him of being funded by "special interests." And in comments to reporters on Saturday, Dean raised doubts about Kerry's judgment, referring to votes Kerry took in 1991 on the eve of the first Gulf War and his vote for war in 2002.

~snip~

Dean and Kerry (and Rep. Dick Gephardt, before he dropped out of the race) had been trading blows for months. But since the Iowa caucuses last week, clearer fault lines have emerged between other candidates. Kerry's and Sen. John Edwards's surprise one-two finish there forced all of the candidates to reconsider their assumptions in New Hampshire. Retired general Wesley Clark, who skipped the Iowa race to devote himself to campaigning here, seemed poised to take on Dean one-on-one once the race returned to New Hampshire. Clark has struggled in recent days to position himself against the new leader in the polls, Kerry.

~snip~

At this stage, every day is the equivalent of four dog years," Sabato said. "They could be making better use of those four dog years. It's odd. They're competing against one another, but they almost don't want to give the impression that they're competing."


More:http://www.cmonitor.com/stories/news/state2004/012604_tone_2004.shtml


They left out Joe Lieberman, guess he's not going negative? :(

[maddezmom]

1. :kick:

[blm]

2. Thanks. This happens.

It's not so pretty. But noone should pretend they are the only ones aggrieved and that their campaign is full of saints.

There are some real cuthroat operators. I blame them. I don't take it out on the candidate or their supporters.

[maddezmom]

3. agree, it's happening in all the campaigns

it's stinks, it's dirty, but it's everywhere.