GOP insiders worry that president is vulnerable

[starscape]

I hope this isn't a dupe. If it is, I apologize.
------

GOP insiders worry that president is vulnerable

Wed Sep 24, 6:11 AM ET

By Judy Keen, USA TODAY

Some Republicans are saying aloud something that seemed unthinkable just a few months ago: President Bush (news - web sites) could lose next year's election.

There's no panic. There are no calls to the White House urging an overhaul of staff or strategy. But apprehension has seeped into conversations among Republicans in Washington and beyond. A USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll out this week is increasing their concern. It found retired general Wesley Clark and Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites), two Democrats running for president, leading Bush narrowly among registered voters.

"If the economy is not good, we'll have a very close race," says Charlie Black, a veteran Republican strategist in Washington. "In a very close race, you could lose."

Ferrell Blount, chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party, is bracing for "a very tough fight."

Bush and his advisers have always said publicly that they expect a close election. Those predictions help create low expectations and motivate fundraisers and other volunteers to work hard. For months, Bush campaign manager Ken Mehlman has insisted that he's "assuming a very competitive race."


Privately, however, many supporters were confident Bush would coast to a second term. Now that confidence is giving way to anxiety among some of them.

>snip<

the rest is here:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=676&ncid=676&e=1&u=/usatoday/20030924/ts_usatoday/11867744

The story is good, but there is a downer in it - it talks about the advantages that an incumbent has, and the fact that Bush is on track to shatter fund raising records with more than $170 million.

I don't have a lot of money lying around, but after we choose our nominee, I really am going to give all I can.. probably more than I can afford.. to try and make a difference. I urge everyone else to do the same. Let's try to level the playing field as much as possible. And to always keep our eyes on the ball, to take out the rat in the White House!

[jenk]

1. he's been in a steady Freep Fall since BEFORE the war

don't forget that the war was what gave him a boost, otherwise he'd hit the high 40's sooner. I wonder what high gas prices and a bear market will do to his rating.

I think Bush is in for a bumpy ride, much like Carter in 1980. God bless him, but he didn't have a chance.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Remember he was on track to raise

200 Billion... so now it is 170, that is 30 less

[rasputin1952]

3. Even out here in Nebraska...

People sah "bush' with a scowl.

This guy is simply, the worst president ever, and finally, the nation awakes.

[LiberalVoice]

4. My worst fear.

For the past few weeks i have immersed myself into the full on liberal mindset...I cant see how its humanly possible that bush could win the upcoming election. But then again i like most other liberals have enough mind to think for myself rather then be spoon fed horseshit from the likes of Fucks News.

Then again maybe i have lost my ability to read with the populus.

[rasputin1952]

11. I find it interesting that the "RW" news...

arenas are all avoiding the weakneses of bush's agendas.

It is a constant rehash of terrorist attacks, tax cuts and expenditures to well connected companies.

The sand has shifted, and the house will fall.

[opihimoimoi]

14. Bush seems to have Holes in his brain from drug use..explaining

his spurting during speeches.

History will tell us some day.

[Cha]

5. There may not be "panic" now....but there will be! Couldn't

happen to a nicer pack of Rats.

[Flying_Pig]

6. I predict, that we will raise far more funds than Bush!

With the $75 million billionaire George Soros has committed, to what the re-invigorated grass-roots Dems raise, we're going to show the Repugs, that not even corporations and the right-wing wealthy will be able to counter the passion and dedication of a riled up and mad-as-hell electorate! The Repugs can raise $200 mil, and we'll still whup their asses!!

[wryter2000]

9. Question?

How is Soros' money dedicated? Is it all against Bush or for Dems overall? If it looks like our candidate can beat Bush, it would be nice to get Soros' help to oust a few repugs in Congress.

[ShaneGR]

7. This is why we will win....

They won't figure out how terribly they're doing until the end of this year. We've had a TON of time to get ready and organize. They've sat back and gloated to themselves how easy it was going to be.

Sorry, we're making you our BITCHES!

[frank frankly]

8. 200 million in ads can't win a win

or bring back 3 million jobs by next november
or stop the patriot act
etc
etc
etc

their ads are going to be impossible to believe, except for the deepest freepers

[FarLeftRage]

10. Take away the use of rigged (diebold) voting machines

and piece of sh*t b*sh will lose big time!

[Enraged_Ape]

12. 200 million dollars to market a dumber-than-dirt assclown...

will not change the fact that he is a dumber-than-dirt assclown.

[July]

13. Talk about a "close race" is spin

serving several purposes:

1) makes Bush look as if he's competitive;

2) gets the base out to the polls;

3) gives wiggle room for election tampering.

It's going to be a rout, and we're going to win! If we spin this back at them, we can affect all three goals above (Bush looks like a loser, demoralized base stays home, tampering looks too fishy).

[opihimoimoi]

15. The handwriting is on the WALL

[leesa]

16. The son-of-a-bitch better be in jail by next year.

[Padraig18]

17. I like Jeanine Garafolo's (sp.?) question:

"If he's so f*cking great, why does he need a quarter-billion dollars to get re-elected?" (or words to that effect). :P