Mother Former Member
Joined: 02 Nov 2004 Posts: 210
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Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2005 6:31 am Post subject: "Kerry a Drag" Study of the American Electorate |
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http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=aIStuEdM_Nz8&refer=us
Kerry a `Drag' on Some Statewide Races, Report Says (Update1)
Quote: | Jan. 14 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. Senator John Kerry's presidential candidacy was a ``drag'' on other Democrats and probably cost his party statewide victories in Alaska, Missouri, Oklahoma and South Dakota, a report on voter turnout said.
The report released today by the nonpartisan Committee for the Study of the American Electorate said exit polls showed more Democrats defected from their party than did Republicans. Kerry ``lacked clarity'' on issues and failed to present a vision for the future, the report said.
``He was a terrible candidate,'' said Curtis Gans, director of the committee. ``He was emotionless and passionless and humorless. He was mostly stiff and boring.''
Kerry got fewer votes than Democratic candidates for either governor or senator in 30 of 37 states, the report said. Republicans gained four seats in the Senate, including the defeat of the Senate's highest-ranking Democrat, Minority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota. Republicans have 55 seats and Democrats have 44, with one independent. Before the election, Republicans had 51 seats.
A spokesman for Kerry, the four-term Massachusetts senator, wasn't immediately available for comment. A spokesman for the Democratic National Committee didn't immediately return a phone call seeking comment.
Turnout in the Nov. 2 election was the highest since 1968, and 60.7 percent of eligible voters cast ballots for president, the report found. Turnout rose by 6.4 percent, or about 17 million votes, from the 2000 election, the report said.
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