Bush ads drive up Kerry's negatives but leave him standing

[JI7]

<WASHINGTON (AP) — President Bush's re-election team drove up negative impressions of John Kerry during a relentless $80 million advertising campaign the last three months, but the Republicans failed to undercut the Democrat's standing as a viable alternative to Bush.

As the Bush-Cheney campaign's spring push draws to a close, the Republicans have succeeded in changing voters' perception of Kerry — from a positive opinion held by a majority of Americans to a largely divided view.

After winning the primaries in early March, Kerry was viewed favorably by a 2-to-1 margin. Now, half view him favorably and four in 10 have an unfavorable assessment, according to a Pew Research Center poll released this week.

Although the Bush re-election campaign has achieved one goal — changing voters' impressions of the Democrat — it has been unable to do what President Clinton managed in 1996: open what proved to be an insurmountable lead over Republican challenger Bob Dole.

Kerry's biographical ads focusing on his decorated tours of duty in Vietnam have been particularly effective, Jamieson said. The Kerry campaign spent more than $60 million on ads that attempted to define the four-term Massachusetts senator for a significant part of the electorate that knows little about him and spots criticizing Bush's policies. >

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/president/2004-06-18-Bush-ads_x.htm

[FloridaPat]

1. I liked the Bush ad that said Kerry's policies won't create jobs.

Wonder if Bush has looked at his policies? Of course, all those Neo-cons out of work would make the jobless numbers higher.

[lancdem]

2. I got an email from the Kerry campaign

saying a few days ago marked the end of Bush's 90-day blitz designed to blow Kerry away.

Kerry's goal these past three months has been to take the hits and keep on standing. He's done just that.

Soon it'll be his turn to go on the offensive, once he picks his VP. His campaign has always looked to the long term.

[frylock]

3. rope-a-dope..

time for Kerry to step up with the knock-out punch.

[markses]

4. So Kerry has a 50% approval rating? Pretty good, in the wake of the $80 m

Still better than that ugly little bastard Bush's numbers.

Wasted: $80 million.

[digno dave]

5. Kerry's own words have driven up negatives, along with attack ads

sorry to have to say so, but...

[lancdem]

6. Huh?

[markses]

7. Just go with it

Don't expect an explanation.

[struggle4progress]

9. I for one would love to hear details.

:evilgrin:

[sweetladybug]

10. digno dave, how about explaining yourself?

OR you aren't one of the Freepers that come around to start shit?

[w4rma]

8. My opinion of Kerry,as I've learned more about him,has only increased (nt)

[AndyTiedye]

11. The Calm Before...

the onslaught.

Recently, we have been able to match the volume of their advertising.
That will not be possible at any time after the convention.

Kerry will have to start burning through his general election money in July.

Bush* can spend-spend-spend until September, and still have $75 million
to spend in the final 60 days.

Kerry has to make his money last twice as long. Not good. Half as many ads,
likely to get lost among all the free pro-Bush* "news" programming by the
networks.

How do we counter this?

[JI7]

12. unions and independent groups

i'm hoping unions and independent groups do something.although they wont be able to work with the campaign on the ads.