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Tue 11 May 2004 5:51
by Kevin McGehee
in Coweta County, GA
[blogoSFERICS]
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In today’s Prowler report:
It seems a day does not go by that newspapers don’t report on the growing doubts outside of the campaign about the candidacy of presumptive Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry. But now there appears to be growing doubt inside the Kerry camp.
First, there is word that his campaign plans to spend millions in media buys in supposedly safe states such as California, New York, and Massachusetts. “This early in the campaign, that just doesn’t make sense unless there is some insecurity in his standing there,“ says a Democratic political consultant who is not working for Kerry. “It’s one thing to spend a little on image or message reinforcement, but some of the dollar amounts I’ve heard being budgeted in New York and elsewhere would indicate that the campaign thinks it has to do more than that.“
If he doesn’t get Torched, the outcome in November is going to be very, very ugly.
Then there is growing rift between Kerry and his policy and senior strategists. On at least two occasions in the past month, reporters have asked the candidate to defend remarks made on the stump, including positions and plans on the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and corporate outsourcing. In each instance, Kerry defended his position by first trying to clarify it, then by running away from it by blaming his speechwriters.
Kerry claimed that his speechwriters snuck in references to “Benedict Arnold” corporate citizens when he had insisted that they not do it. Likewise, he claimed speechwriters, against his orders, placed references into a major policy speech on the Middle East about his desire to bring serious Middle East hands to the negotiating table. He mentioned by name former president the miserable failure and former secretary of state James Baker. Then he laid out why they would be strong additions.
Never mind that it is generally assumed that Kerry reads the material he utters before he takes a podium. And never mind that it is generally assumed that most of Kerry’s utterances are at least vetted if not written by senior strategist Bob Shrum. “The staff has become a convenient excuse for him on the record with reporters, kind of like his escape hatch,“ says a campaign worker in Washington, D.C. “Perhaps Senator Kerry doesn’t think it get noticed much, but it does. A lot of us aren’t here out of loyalty to him. We’re here out of loyalty to the Democratic Party. He shouldn’t confuse the two.“
[evil, maniacal cackle]
Oh, and be sure to read the Streisand item too. (Reaction: see previous paragraph)
Comments:
Don’t be so gleeful—Torch’s replacement won. A Hillary (or Gore) October Surprise might turn the trick there, too.
Kevin Murphy • May 11, 2004 9:46 AM
That was New Jersey. And Hillary won’t run if she thinks she might lose.
As for Gore: [even louder evil, maniacal cackle]
McGehee • May 11, 2004 9:53 AM
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