Me#1You#10
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Joined: 06 May 2004
Posts: 6503
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 Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2004 12:28 am Post subject: ArabNews: Election Remains Tight Despite Bush Gains |
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Apparently we're not getting the message through to the ME?
| Quote: | Election Remains Tight Despite Bush Gains
David Dumke
Arab News - Saudi Arabia
The Middle East's Leading English Language Daily
Sunday, 12, September, 2004 (28, Rajab, 1425)
WASHINGTON, 12 September 2004 — After a year of little change in the political landscape, Democrats had cause for concern with the unveiling of polls showing significant Bush gains over the Labor Day weekend. Time, among others, gave Bush a 10-point lead. Labor Day is a point of departure in the campaign cycle, traditionally the beginning of the final and most critical leg of the electoral marathon. But more than that, it sorts out the contenders from the pretenders, the Clintons from the Dukakis. Even prior to the Republican Convention, held Aug. 30-Sept. 2, Kerry had ceded momentum to more aggressive, focused Republican strategists. The Convention itself, as is the norm, produced a bounce for embattled incumbent George W. Bush. Clearly, the combination of Kerry shortcomings and Bush positioning — greatly bolstered by his convention-week monopoly of the US media — changed the complexion of the race. With 50 days remaining until election day, it would be easy to forecast a Bush victory. But it would also be premature.
After the Democratic Convention in July, John Kerry had the edge, though not decisively. Like successful challengers of the past, he positioned himself as a viable alternative who gave American voters confidence that he possessed the ability to take hold of the reins of government. Kerry used his party’s convention to highlight his security credentials, as the vaguely-defined issues of “national security” — which in the mind of the electorate combines the war on terrorism, Iraq, foreign policy, homeland security, and defense — is judged the most important issue this year. Kerry’s strategy relied on making his case by utilizing his distinguished Vietnam War record.
In hindsight, many Democrats have belittled his Boston performance. But at the time, Kerry gained ground on Bush not only on the aggregate, but on the aforementioned issues comprising national security, issues which traditionally favor Republicans. Many panicking Democrats are now snipping at Kerry, but these same individuals were singing Kerry’s praise in early August. The overall Democratic Convention theme was not necessarily flawed, but it did fail to sell the idea that the economy, education, health care, and job creation are important to “national security” if not national well-being. After all, polls show voters are convinced the country is headed in the wrong direction, and accordingly are willing to listen to new ideas.
In allowing the pro-Bush Swift Boat Veterans for Truth to distort his military record, Kerry made a big mistake. But the decision to wait two weeks before responding to these inaccurate but politically damaging advertisements compounded it. His belated response kept the focus on the ads for at least an additional week.
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-David Dumke is the CEO of the American Middle East Information Network.
Arab News - con't |
American Middle East Information Network eh? Google time. |
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