GOP Increasingly Wary Of Democratic Challenge (Meaning Kerry)

[DrFunkenstein]

While Republicans relish the chance to pick apart two decades of Kerry's congressional votes, they were absolutely salivating at the prospect of running against Dean, who many thought could be more easily outflanked.

Republicans feel Kerry is a veteran politician who can avoid the obvious mistakes of a political newcomer and they're very aware he is a decorated Vietnam war hero running in a time of war.



"I can't tell you in all honesty that President Bush has a big advantage going into this election," said Gary Abernathy, executive director of the West Virginia Republican Party.

"Just the fact that he's been in the trenches and knows the warfare gives him a better chance than some who haven't been through it," (Joyce Lyons Terhes, a Republican national committeewoman) said.

"I've seen John Kerry up close and personal," (New Hampshire Republican Tom Rath) said. "He's one of the strongest closers in American politics. His last three weeks are the best three weeks." That was certainly true in Iowa and New Hampshire.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040131/ap_on_el_pr/wary_republicans&cid=694&ncid=2043

[rumguy]

1. I like the idea of having a "strong closer"

When things get nasty and intense, ya gotta have someone who can take the heat...

[Cocoa]

2. Here's a president that has done so much for the military?

"Here's a president who has done so much for the military," Warner said. "And you've got a guy like Kerry who, whenever he shows up on TV, has veterans standing behind him, including the guy he pulled out of the river."

West Virginia has a very high population of veterans.

"If George Bush and John Kerry get in a fight over veteran loyalty," he said, "it will be interesting to see where that goes."


What's this guy talking about? The plastic turkey?

[rumguy]

4. slashing vetran's benefits - yeah he's doing a lot for the military

he's using them for photo-ops, that's what he's doing...

[Feanorcurufinwe]

5. I think he meant to say "who has done so much TO the military" n/t

[DrFunkenstein]

7. Well, He Did Give Them A Chance To Use Their Weapons

Unfortunately, there's that whole "shooting back" thing...

[Frances]

8. Plastic Turkey--Plastic President

n/t

[Feanorcurufinwe]

3. Kerry is a liberal who can win Republican voters by inspiring them.

With his military background, and his support of welfare reform and Gramm-Rudman-Hollings, the Republican's 'Massachussetts liberal' attack is falling flat. And when confronted, Kerry plays offense, echoing John F. Kennedy with lines like: "If balancing budgets is liberal, I'm a liberal".

Bush is toast.

[cid]

11. Actually, it was Dean that said if balancing budgets mean Im

a liberal, then Im a liberal..several times since he started his run last year.

[H2O Man]

6. the smarter republicans realize....

...that the intensity of the democrat's dislike for bush is a very powerful force. We have four strong people now: Clark, Dean, Edwards, and Kerry. Let's unite the tribes, folks! We need to find the William Wallace within ourselves, and then we are in fine shape to do battle with the bush administration on every front.

[THUNDER HANDS]

9. was Al Gore considered a strong closer?

I mean, Gore made up a lot of ground in the polls the last week of the campaign, but was he considered going into it to be someone who could put away a race late?

Anyone remember?

[DrFunkenstein]

10. 5% of NH Republicans Wrote-In Kerry's Name

It had no effect on the Democratic/Independent-only primary, but it certainly sent a powerful message in the shape of a pink slip to a White House.