Crafting Kerry's Future With a Nod to the Past

[kskiska]

Wednesday, April 21, 2004; Page A01

As he prepares for the most ambitious and defining phase of his presidential candidacy, Sen. John F. Kerry (Mass.) is relying on image-makers schooled in traditional Kennedy liberalism to sell himself anew to voters as a 21st-century centrist Democrat, a muscular hawk on national defense and deficits.

Bob Shrum, longtime confidant of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), is emerging as the most influential shaper of Kerry's image and words. Shrum, a purveyor of populism who has a reputation for angling for control of campaigns and sometimes alienating colleagues in the process, helped elbow out Kerry's campaign manager last year and is putting a distinctly populist us-against-them stamp on the candidate's more mainstream "new Democrat" message.

Shrum's power is rivaled by only a select few, including his business partner Michael Donilon, described by three Kerry insiders as the smartest, though stealthy, daily strategist, and Boston-based pollster Tom Kiley, the campaign's pulse-taker and calming presence. Kiley is part of small, though influential, band of Bostonians who have watched Kerry's back since his first run for Congress in 1972. Most are veterans of Kennedy's campaigns as well.

It is Shrum's word and Kiley's polling data and Donilon's ads shaping a soon-to-be-released media campaign introducing Kerry to voters in battleground states. But it is Mary Beth Cahill, campaign manager and another longtime adviser to Kennedy, calling the final shots and overseeing the fast-growing operation.

Their lofty mission: to set aside a long-running feud within the Democratic Party over its direction to position Kerry as the presidential candidate who is pro-national defense, pro-middle-class tax cuts, pro-balanced budgets -- with the rhetorical dash and inspiration of John F. Kennedy, a hero to Kerry and many of his top aides.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A28941-2004Apr20.html

[David Dunham]

1. The Kennedy people know how to win elections.

[Maat]

2. Yes. What you have posted gives me reassurance.

Kerry has some real pros involved. And he is going to need them.

[blm]

3. This is the political fight of ALL our lives.

.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

4. These "Pros" are going to win the election for him.

Of course we the base must come out and vote too.

"Professional Campaign Advisors + $100,000,000 + The Democratic Base = President John Forbes Kerry."