Shot In The Dark: Backing Into Office

June 17, 2004

Backing Into Office

As Captain Ed notes, the Dems' strategy seems to be to try to get the public to avoid any mention of John Kerry. As long as the public's attention is on anything - anything - other than Kerry himself.

First it was the Richard Clarke. Then, the 911 ~~kangaroo court~~ commission. Then it was Abu Ghraib. Then it was the extended (and, if McCain was to be believed, futile) courting of John McCain to serve as Veep. Then it was Abu Ghraib. Then it was Reagan's funeral. Then, more Abu Ghraib.

And now, again, a third round of ostensible interest in McCain.

Perhaps the Democrats were right to float the idea of delaying their nominating convention - only they should have held off until after the inauguration. Having no name at all on the ballot could only help Kerry's chances.

Of course, the Administration's unwillingness to actually get its hands dirty, or even get any positive PR for itself out there, isn't hurting the no-name candidacy either. If Bush doesn't start swinging hard, it could actualy work.

Posted by Mitch at June 17, 2004 10:37 AM

Comments

Some are saying that Clinton is flogging his book now in order to suck all the air out of the room so that Kerry will lose and Hillary! can be elected in '08 without having to face an incumbent Democrat. I wonder if his actual intent is not more sinister: giving the Dems their wish and removing Kerry from folks' radar - he polls much better when there's no attention on him, after all.

Posted by: Brian Jones at June 17, 2004 11:38 AM

I'll be honest, neither canidate is doing a good job right now. No chance in hell I vote for Kerry, but I sure wish Bush would get out and try to convince me. Get Condi on the Sunday morning shows detailing WHY we know that there were connections between Iraq and Al-queada so that the press cannot just say Iraq had no connection to 9/11 and not be accused of lying. Have Powell go out and detail how exactly screwed up Japan and Germany were in 1947 and contrast that to the progress that has been done in Iraq in 1.5 years. Get someone, anyone, out there bringing up the 1 million jobs nearly created in the last 3 months, 60% or so of people still think we've lost jobs the last few months. Good God, there is good news abound but I gotta sit and watch Kennedy blather about Abu Ghraib and the Star Tribune complain about foreign clam species in Lake Superior.

Posted by: Dave at June 17, 2004 12:42 PM

The # one reason people say they don't vote is because they don't know enough about the candiates. So is this supposed Dem strategy really going to work. Everyone knows about President Bush but its said few know about Kerry. So will people just not vote because they don't know enough about the candiates?

Posted by: ordi at June 17, 2004 05:29 PM

I'm with Dave on this one. Bush has plenty of arrows in his quiver, he needs to start using them.

I've read where President Bush was known as quite the poker player back in his Yale days. I think he's allowing the Dems to over play their hand (on the economy, Iraq, WMD) not protesting too loudly so they will continue to espouse their usual litany of falsehoods. Once power has changed hands in Iraq, the Bush campaign will go into full gear, firing those arrows with deadly precision. The Dems will be on their heels until election day.

Posted by: RandMan at June 17, 2004 07:18 PM