Kerry Likely to "Swoosh" Past Edwards and Clark in S.C.: A Secret Weapon

[Raya]

The pundits who scratched their heads at why Kerry would announce in South Carolina rather than in his home state and city of Boston are about to find out: Kerrys’ “Swift Boat” is his not-so-secret weapon.

Watching Kerry's formal announcement for president at Patriot's Point, S.C., one could see the elements of Kerry winning strategy.

For one, there was an aircraft carrier in the background and Max Cleland gave a fiery speech which liberally cited Kerry’s war-time acts of bravery in a way that Kerry himself never does. S.C. is a Navy base and Vets State. You can now imagine how Cleland and Hollings, who both strongly support Kerry and want to prove he can win in the South, are going to campaign across the state on Kerry’s war-hero anecdotes and the testifying of his boat-mates.

Kerry’s main gunner on his “Operation Sealords” missions in the Mekong Delta, just happens to be an African American now an ordained preacher, and gave a tear-jerk prayer of Kerry. I imagine that Al Sharpton will have some competition in the Black churches of S.C. and Edward’s “two Americas” campaign will have some competition a populist barn-storming Kerry who did really have a “Band of Brothers.”

Sadly for Clark and Edwards, Kerry’s swift boat is going to leave them in its wake.

[xultar]

1. Somethin doesn't smell right

I don't think Clark will be in any wake...

[Dark Star]

8. It just plain stinks, xultar!

[JI7]

2. i still think edwards will take south carolina

kerry has apretty good plan up there though, but i still think edwards will win. i do hope kerry does well though even if he doesn't come in first.

[yellowcanine]

7. Bill looks as if he might be getting a little "eye candy" there.

Way to go, Bill!

[WiseMen]

3. Edward is really a prohibitive favorite as native son. Will be hard fight

[Feanorcurufinwe]

4. I thought you were going to say Rep. Clyburn's endorsement.

But I guess it's not much of a secret that he has the most extensive and well organized SC political organization. He'll be able to get out the vote for Kerry like no one else.

[Raya]

17. With Clyburn it's going to be a blowout

[Leilani]

5. I think the fix is in

I really think this is all over. Last night on Nightline, Ted Koeppel said the establishment has decided that Kerry is the nominee.

Once that decision was made, all the pols are jumping on board, the money will be flowing in, & there is such a short time. Six days left to campaign in 7 states? Get real!

The media is on board, & that is the main thing. Other candidates get less & less coverage, & most of it is negative...what mistake did they make today?

Any way, I'm disappointed, because I really participated in this campaign, feel very strongly about my candidate, & feel like it didn't really matter.

I will support John Kerry if he is the nominee. The most important thing is to get rid of Bush.

This is not a negative post against Kerry; it's a negative post about the election system we have now.

[yellowcanine]

10. No "fix", Kerry has earned his status as frontrunner

Remember, the media had him written off and on life support a couple of months ago. Give him credit. He revamped his campaign and got things back on track. True he was helped by the "piling on" of Dean - but Dean wasn't able to adjust when the negative flak started flying the way Kerry did. And I say this as someone who has been pulling for Dean but I have been a little disappointed with the way he has handled the limelight. It is fine to be a "straight shooter" but it doesn't hurt to think a little more before you open your mouth. I still think Dean would make a great president because I think he is a problem solver and understands working people. But I can certainly get behind Kerry and in terms of beating Bush his Vietnam veteran status will be a big asset.

[Raya]

18. Well said

[NewYorkerfromMass]

23. "it doesn't hurt to think a little more before you open your mouth"

Indeed. One of my big problems with the man.

[Bombtrack]

6. I hope Clark takes NM and AZ, Edwards takes SC, and possibly OK

and Kerry takes DE and MO.

[BootinUp]

9. Clark will take OK, NM

AZ, and MO are tough to get a feel for yet.

[WiseMen]

14. Do you have link to some pols? Seen on AZ and MO

[WiseMen]

28. He is leading in OK. But in New Mexico Kerry could catch up.

[yellowcanine]

11. I think Kerry takes MO, NM, DE, and at least 2nd in SC.

I think Kerry finishes at least second in SC behind Edwards and he may win it. I don't see Clark doing that well in SC. My hunch is that his "I'm a general, Kerry is a Lt." bit will not play well in SC. I could be way off base here, it is just a hunch.

[Adjoran]

12. Clyburn has no statewide organization

He is 6th District Congressman, and has never run statewide. The GOTV effort is not his, but the party organization's, even in his district. His endorsement helps some with African-Americans in the Lowcountry, but it remains to be seen how much.

SC veterans are a rather conservative bunch, even the life-long Democrats, on military issues. Kerry's problem here is not his impressive war record, but his record after coming back of accusing American soldiers of atrocities.

Kerry's only advantage in SC is the bounce from Iowa and NH.

Edwards is popular and strong with African-Americans. Dean is getting a second look. Clark appears to have peaked too soon in the state, leading polls in the fall but sinking ever since.

The "X" factor in SC is Sharpton. He's spent a lot of time here, campaigning with a number of A-A ministers. Whether voters will actually mark their ballots for him as a symbolic vote is up in the air. Many may choose to have a more direct effect on the nomination, which would help Edwards and possibly Dean.

[blm]

13. EXCEPT, the vets here who helped Bush in 2000 say he lied to them and

now offered their help to Kerry to defeat Bush. They apologized for what happened to McCain, too.

[Raya]

20. Very interesting. Great if can get a big movement of vets away from Repub

[sandnsea]

16. War is hell

Vets know that. Kerry never accused any particular soldier of anything, never participated in anything that remotely went in that direction. His only testimony was regarding the free fire zones which was a command decision, not to accuse any soldier of an atrocity. I think vets will understand it if they have any inclincation to vote against Bush in the first place.

[knight_of_the_star]

15. Clark could do well for those reasons as well

Remember, he got his Purple Heart and his Silver Star in 'nam and there are quite a few vets organizations who are helping Clark out in any way they can. Don't write SC off just yet, that and I've heard Clark is doing well in AZ, NM, and OK. He could come out on top after Feb 3rd.

[DjTj]

19. South Carolina is going to be a BIG battle...

...I think if Kerry wins, then he is it.

[WiseMen]

21. Just Heard part of Kerry S.C Ad. You were dead on!

[flpoljunkie]

22. Crewmate's name is Rev David Alston, who lives in Columbia, South Carolina

You can watch the ad at http://www.johnkerry.com

It says in part:

"When bullets began to hit the side of the boat, we found out that John Kerry could lead."

And ends:

"The man would make a great president."

-A great testimonial for John Kerry by one of his swift boat crewmates.

[John_H]

24. Before the Kerry folks take the ol' PT 109 out for a victory lap....

read the above post carefully. This poster gets it: Kerry is in serious trouble without a win in SC (A win I'll bet a quarter he doesn't get).

There will be no proof he can win in the South. If Clark wins two or three states, he'll have won as many as Kerry (and likely one of them will more populous than either IA or NH. And the race is dead even w/ a bunch o' south coming up the next week.

We all love inevitability, as Dean supporters used to remind us. Are you going to make the same mistake?

[WiseMen]

25. I agree. But Give Kerry Credit for a hell of a fight back and risking own

money.

[robbedvoter]

26. Is "We don't need no stinkin' South" - part of the secret plan?

Or is it a Diebold/GOP crossing to vote in the Dem primaries thingy?
Considering past dirty tricks from this campaign, I would be less proud of "secret plans" - sonsidering Karl is on board:

Bush Campaign Shifts Gears for Kerry

2 hours, 28 minutes ago
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040129/ap_on_el_pr/bush_politics&cid=694&ncid=716

By SCOTT LINDLAW, Associated Press Writer

[WiseMen]

27. No. We are the true patriots, is part of the plan

[THUNDER HANDS]

29. stand by to man the lifeboats

The S.S. Kerry is full steam ahead!

:D