THE [FRONT] RUNNER STUMBLES:

Gephardt, Taking Aim at White House, Sharply Attacks Bush (ADAM NAGOURNEY, 2/20/03, NY Times)

Mr. Gephardt, a Missouri Democrat who stepped down as House minority leader after Democrats failed to win control of Congress in November, used his announcement speech in St. Louis this morning to offer some of the harshest criticism of Mr. Bush voiced so far by any Democratic presidential candidate.

He portrayed the White House as overridden with "special interest lobbyists," and said that Mr. Bush's policies had undermined the nation's economic recovery, soiled the environment and neglected public schools. Attacking the centerpiece of Mr. Bush's economic plan, Mr. Gephardt vowed to "scrap the vast majority of the Bush tax cuts for wealthier Americans and corporations." [...]

Mr. Gephardt devoted barely 2 of the speech's 43 minutes to foreign policy, and that included an affirmation of support for Mr. Bush's effort to disarm Saddam Hussein--including military action if necessary.

His overriding and relatively detailed focus on domestic issues, coming as the nation seems to be on the verge of war, contrasted sharply with many of his major rivals. The focus appeared intended to reinforce his credentials with Democratic activists and labor unions who could prove crucial in the early presidential nominating caucuses.

Even setting aside all his other problems--well detailed in Richard Ben Cramer's What It Takes--the early schedule is gruesome for Mr. Gephardt. He has to win Iowa, having done so last time, but can't wing NH, which will go to John Kerry, as MA politicians always win here. This will seem to nip what little momentum he had in the bud and to get it back he'll have to win in Southern states, despite black opponents, Southern opponents, and more hawkish opponents, and the reality that unions aren't that important in the region. Stick a fork in him. Posted by Orrin Judd at February 20, 2003 1:26 PM