Challenger Kerry Needs to Move Quick

[millsaps28]

I am so glad that Kerry is the Nominee and I am glad to see that Kerry is sticking it io Bush the way that he is. However I am afriad that Kerry will fall behind if he dosent heed a couple of things that he needs to remember:

1. The primaries are effectively over. Therefore, he needs to tie his criticicms of Bush around some sort of theme or he'll run the risk of sounding like a downbeat doom and gloom candidate. The eratic criticism of Bush was great through the primaries since it was repeated by everyone, but now since all the attention is focused on him, the criticisms need to follow a theme like "liar" or "corrupt" or "eletist".

2. He needs to ballance his message with his own detailed proposals on how he would fix the problems. He also needs to let his message flow from a single phrase. For Bush in 2000, it was "Compassionate Conservatism". For Kerry, it should be something like "Common Dreams" or something new that people can hear and instantly think of his candidacy. The "Real Deal" wont work because it too common and it sounds like a lazy variation of FDR's "New Deal".

3. Finally he needs a strategic rapid response plan. What I mean here is that he needs not only to answer criticism by the GOP, but he needs to offer a firm refutation to every criticism, deliver it STRONGLY, QUICKLY, and take a shot at them while they are at it.

4. I just thought of another one. He needs to began, right now, to define this race. I am glad that Kerry will be in Mississippi tommorow but, I think that he should write off the south and focus on the Mid-west states of Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio with a message on Jobs and the economy. He also needs to continue to pull at states like Pennsylvaina, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and Oregan with a social message that hinges on equality, rights, and pluralism. This will allow him to criticize Bush on a consistant theme without worrying about offending a group in a region you wont get annyway.


Yes this is a national race but its not who gets the most votes. Its who gets the most electors from states. Therefore, I think that Kerry needs to run 2 regional campaings: One aimed at the Midwest, including pennsylvaina; and a southwestern campaign, including Oregan. This allows him to send a clear and concise message with clear and concise solutions that will avoid the dillution that is nessesary when one tries to include the south in any electoral strategy.

[Maat]

1. I agree.

i think he has to settle on a V.P. soon. We need to energize the base and back the ticket for six months. I disagree with those who say he should wait.

[ewagner]

2. This is a BIGGIE!

3. Finally he needs a strategic rapid response plan. What I mean here is that he needs not only to answer criticism by the GOP, but he needs to offer a firm refutation to every criticism, deliver it STRONGLY, QUICKLY, and take a shot at them while they are at it.


They must take a page out of Dean's playbook. IMO Dean had the absolute best rapid response team I've seen in a long time.

[buycitgo]

3. this is probably the most important one, unfortunately

the media are still in pugpockets, even CSPAN


did anybody see that TOAD host today show the GOP website that has Kerry boxing with himself? he lingered affectionately over it, explaining how linkees could play the interactive game.

truly despicable

and it's just starting

look how they've sprung to his defense on those nauseating 911 ads

Guiliani will be on MTP tomorrow; Russert in full lavage mode, to be sure

[seabeyond]

4. i really dont want to write off south

that is what repugs want. and like they have defined who liberals are and are trying to define kerry and define bush, they too want to define south and define the christian.

we have to quit allowing them, to define all. wont be on our side balanced equal or true

[millsaps28]

5. Yes But...

I understand that you dont want to write off the south, but its not about what republicans want. Its about doing what we need to do to win. If Kerry had a $200 million dollar war chest I would say go for it. However, on a limited budget, I think we need to be smart and go after what is attainable.

[dand]

6. He needs to bite the bullet and pick Edwards

[seabeyond]

7. what if

the democrats continue to send people in, bill into arkansas and louisanna edwards mccleland bring someone to texas. town meetings. that wouldnt be expensive. anything to further talk

i think there are a few southern states at play. if we could pick up a couple that shifts moment, breaks up the map and the power and we are talking congress too

[Old and In the Way]

8. I agree, too.

IMHO, he should choose America's energy problems to paint a clear contrast between us and the Cororate Oil-owned administration that conducts our US energy/foreign policy based on the needs of their financial balance sheets.

That vision is awesomely clear.

Republicans = Oil = War = DeadEnd
Democrats = Alternative/Renewable = Jobs = Future

[incapsulated]

9. Short answer:

He needs to define himself before the rethugs define him. Just being "not Bush" is good enough for the Dems, but it doesn't speak to the swing voters he will need. He needs to create an image of himself based not only on his history, but on a few well-chosen themes that can be summed up posiitively about what he is going to do for the country.

 
 

[DianeG5385]

10. I donated $50/mo for the duration.

He needs the bucks to counter this crap. If you can, donate! We need his ads in response to each of Bush's*. I watched the NASCAR Busch race(ironical I know)today, and Bush* had four spots glorifying his specialness! Kerry must compete on this level and get his mega ads out. Also, we must cry bloody murder when the RNC tries to get MoveOn ads knocked off the air. The little fascists. don't want the truth to leak out.