Democrats Hope to Send a Southern Message to Bush - NYT

[Wonk]

By KATHARINE Q. SEELYE
Published: February 10, 2004

NASHVILLE, Feb. 10 — Al Gore's loss of his home state in 2000 hangs heavy over Democrats here.

But with Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts poised to make a clean win in Tennessee in Tuesday's Democratic presidential primary against two Southerners, Democrats are allowing themselves to think they might be able to move the state into the win column in November.

(snip)

"If Kerry wins, it sends a statement to the White House that voters in the South are going to listen to the issues," Mr. Ford said. "They aren't going to be led to believe that if you're from one region, you can't speak to voters here. It means you have to come to the South with more than rhetoric."

Randall A. Button, the state Democratic chairman, who has remained neutral in the race, agreed.

(snip)

Mr. Kerry's message here has been relatively issue-free as he has sailed through on his momentum from his earlier wins. The state has lost 72,000 jobs in the last three years, and the candidates are blaming Mr. Bush rather than dissecting each other's programs. More to the point, they are talking about their values and culture and faith — and avoiding any talk of gun control, one of the issues that was deemed crucial to Mr. Gore's loss here against Mr. Bush in 2000.

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