How Would John Kerry Do In A One-On-One Debate With Hillary Clinton?

[THUNDER HANDS]

Kerry, of course, being one of the best debaters we've ever had run for president.

How would he do against Hillary?

[PresidentObama]

1. What's the point of this? Get people bashing Kerry and Hillary? Because it's bound to happen.

[THUNDER HANDS]

2. no, i'm curious

I love Kerry. I wish he ran this year. But he really didn't have anyone in 2004 attack him the way that Hillary attacked Obama tonight. So I'm curious what people think Kerry would have done against her, since he's a much more experienced debater than Obama is.

[PresidentObama]

3. I wish he would have ran too, and I think he would have dominated the debates.

Whether against Clinton, Obama or Edwards.

Senator Kerry is an awesome debator.

[THUNDER HANDS]

5. he is

he destroyed Bush in three straight debates. The first one was so bad I almost felt sorry for Bush. Almost.

I think Kerry = Obama would be an awesome debate to watch. Two very similiar individuals. But Kerry-Clinton is so intriguing.

Of course, for sheer entertainment value, a Gore-Clinton debate would be worth the price of admission.

[PresidentObama]

9. I think Hillary is a good debator. Senator Kerry is awesome though.

It'd be interesting.

[More Than A Feeling]

16. Tag team debate: Gore and Kerry v. the Clintons

How much would that rock? I think my head would explode.

[sandrakae]

4. John Kerry won every 2004 Presidential Debate without attacking George Bush.

A good debater does not have to attack, they have to be prepared with fact.s

[PresidentObama]

7. Absolutely. Kerry blew Bush away.

Bush blew off the first debate.

And the last two, he looked fake and rehearsed.

Kerry looked confident, had his facts in order, and presented his cause for his candidacy and against Bush being re-elected.

He mopped the floor with George Dubya.

It was a proud moment for this Kerrycrat :)

[LostinVA]

27. Yes

[Radical Activist]

6. Next time I would use different words than beat and destroy

in reference to what people do to Hillary. Its nitpicking but I've volunteered for too many women's shelters to like it when people use that kind of language about women.

But I do think Kerry would do a hell of a lot better. If debates won elections then Kerry would have won against Bush in a landslide.

[THUNDER HANDS]

8. you know, i was thinking that as I wrote it

but I figured if I used it in connection with her towards him, it wouldn't be as bad.

[Bread and Circus]

10. Nice way of asking who hates/loves Hillary.

notice most DU'ers response.

[THUNDER HANDS]

11. well, there are people who supported Kerry who now support Hillary

I'm not one of them, but I know they are a lot.

[sandrakae]

13. Not really. I am a Hillary Supporter.

Of course that is only because John Kerry is not running. It is very hard for me to support her because I blame her a bit for him not running. I think she is the best of the choices we are stuck with. Please do not assume because we beleive John Kerry is a better debater or would be a better President that we hate Hillary.

[JI7]

12. Kerry's style is different from Hillary's

Kerry seems to always be confident and just in control. he is able to frustrate his opponent without even looking like he is trying because i don't think he really is. he is a natural at debates.

if Obama could master this in debates, and along with his amazing oratory he would have a much easier time.

[PresidentObama]

14. Kerry just understands the issues, and is comfortable debating them.

I think that's the key behind his confidence in the debates.

He simply outsmarts his opponent because his experience gives me a deep understanding of the issues, the problems we face, and the solutions it'll take to solve our nations problems.

I'll never forget the line from the debate in 2004 when he said he made a mistake in how he talked about the war (IE the "I voted for it, before I voted against it" line) but Bush made the mistake of the entire war. It was classic, and smacked down Bush's lie that he was a flip-flopper.

[ProSense]

18. That wasn't during the debate

It was in March 2004 while he was campaigning during the Democratic primary.

There was enough info the above article, and the statement was clarified, but that didn't stop the media from playing shill for the Bush campaign.

[NJSecularist]

15. Kerry is personally the best Democratic debate I've seen

in the modern era. Hillary is a close second, though.

[karynnj]

20. I would put many Democrats higher than HRC as second

Ted Kennedy is great. (there are tons of sound bites from his Romney race that surface to skewer Romney)

The race that might be more fun would be Bill Clinton vs Kerry. Kerry is incredible staying cool and focused. He also seems very cut saying things that appear innocent that can spark a more volatile opponent to a raging outburst, while he stays dignified and reasonable. Also, since 2003, both Kerry and Bill Clinton have been on record on many things and they have often disagreed. BC had the power of the party behind him, but it was Kerry who was far more often right.

[SecularNATION]

17. Who Cares!?

What's the point of this idiotic poll? To take up space and waste our time?

[JanusAscending]

28. Did anyone twist your arm to read it?

or reply ??????:puffpiece:

[karynnj]

19. Kerry has a major advantage over HRC

His past matches his words more than hers. He also is far cleaner and knows her weaknesses on ethics. Saying she has more national security experience because of a less than 8 yr tenure on the armed services committee would not beat Kerry being a war hero and a 20+ year tenure on the SFRC.

Also, on nearly every key issue - he has something to counter her.
Health - when hit with the failure of her health plan, she speaks of how she "created" S-CHIP. Kerry could say much of the language in that bill was his, none hers and then graciously credit her for lobbying BC.

On the environment - he has credentials extending back to 1970. Before he left the race, speaking of global warming, he referred to the Clinton years as part of the "years the locust ate", a Churchill phrase to mean wasted years.

On the war, HRC is now channeling what Kerry said in 2006. He would run on Kerry/Feingold, admitting it was wrong to have trusted Bush in the first place.

On the economy, Kerry's Faneuil Hall speech on the need for economic change was before hers and was far better.

This doesn't mean he would beat her in the election - she has far more media and party support.

[Onlooker]

21. Kerry would get tough after the debate

He'd back down and back down as is his nature when in a fight.

[karynnj]

25. Kerry is very tough in the debates

Even in the primary debates in 2003 and 2004, his attacks on Bush were sharper and more effective than anyone else's. That he doesn't scream and get red faced is an advantage - which you would know if you ever argued against someone who could remain reasonable and in control when angry.

His "nature" is to back down when he is in a fight? That is the opposite of his history. He didn't in Vietnam, he didn't against Nixon, he didn't as a critic of the Contras, who the Clintons favored helping, he didn't fighting BCCI. He stood up to the Reid/Clinton leadership on Alito and Kerry/Feingold.

[protect our future]

22. Kerry would win; then the MSM would declare a Hillary victory. n/t

[rox63]

23. He would crush her like a bug

He's probably the best debater the Dems have. Recall how he crushed * during the 2004 debates?

[Adelante]

24. Kerry is a far better debater than any 2008 candidate

He also knows how to cut and leave a clean wound. It doesn't have to take a hatchet.

[wisteria]

26. Look, watching all the debates what I have noticed is missing is a debater.

That is Senator Kerry. He would best them all. Just remember back to his first debate with Bush. LOL, ah the memories.