Reply #16: Kerry turned it around on the issues in Iowa [View All]

[BeyondGeography]

People need to remember how hard he hit Dean on middle class tax cuts (Dean continued to maintain there have been none under Bush; Kerry named specific Iowans and specific dollar amounts they would have to pay if Dean rescinded all of the Bush tax cuts as promised) and how he combined that thought with his advantage in national security and defense.

Kerry absolutely destroyed Dean in the second Iowa debate, which was broadcast on NPR. The damage was so bad that Dean afterwards announced that he would be announcing his own middle class tax cut on Feb. 2. Remember that one, Dean supporters?

Kerry also zeroed in on electability in Iowa. His line was something like "being light on national defense and heavy on middle class taxes isn't the way to beat George Bush." And it worked.