With Cry of 'Bring It On,' Kerry Regained His Campaign Footing

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By TODD S. PURDUM and DAVID M. HALBFINGER

Published: February 1, 2004

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Jan. 31 — On Saturday night, Nov. 15, John Kerry had everything at stake. He was trailing so far behind Howard Dean in the polls in New Hampshire that he knew he had to make a splash in Iowa. So he stepped before a crowd of 8,000 people at the state Democratic Party's Jefferson-Jackson dinner in Des Moines and let loose.

"If George Bush wants to make national security an issue in this campaign, I have three words for him that I know he'll understand," Mr. Kerry said, in language that became his new rallying cry and started him on the two-month march toward his stunning comeback in the Iowa caucuses and his decisive victory in New Hampshire last week. "Bring it on!"

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"We need to offer answers, not just anger," Mr. Kerry said. "We need to offer solutions, not just slogans. So Iowa, don't just send them a message next January — send them a president."

What happened to Mr. Kerry in the next nine weeks is the story of a candidate who carefully built a new management team, a crisper stump speech, a softer public persona and a series of emotional television advertisements attesting to his courage and character. He stayed in town hall meetings until every questioner had a say, so his answers got shorter and better, and he surrounded himself with fellow Vietnam veterans, including one whose life he saved, so his heart was more on his sleeve.

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"John's strengths as a candidate were always going to emerge," said Mr. Jordan, his former campaign manager. "That is, he always was going to be what voters were looking for in this cycle." He added: "He's back because he got a lot better, but I think some of what's going on now is a misunderstanding of voter behavior. Different voters finally kicked in, a broader swath who were looking for something different and were really struck by John's presidentialness. He's big, he's masculine, he's a serious man for a serious time."


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http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/01/politics/campaign/01KERR.html

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Excellent reporting and analysis from the NYT.