July 27, 2004

OKAY, MAYBE HE CAN'T CARRY D.C.:

Confidence challenges Democrats (CNN/Money, July 27, 2004)

Steady consumer confidence may pose a challenge for Democrats as Americans' views on the economic environment have risen sharply from where they stood just six weeks ago.

The ABC/Money magazine Consumer Comfort index stands at -7 on its scale of +100 to -100, slightly ahead of its long-term -9 average.

Americans' improved perceptions of the economy make it more difficult for the Democrats to challenge President Bush on his economic record. In a separate ABC News/Washington Post poll, registered voters were evenly divided on whom they trust more to handle the economy, Bush or Democratic challenger John Kerry.


The Democratic campaign of '04 will get entire chapters in political science textbooks one day--nominating a sitting Senator from MA and basing their entire message on a war that was going to go away after July 1 and an economy that was certain to improve all year. Amazing.

Posted by Orrin Judd at July 27, 2004 7:46 PM
Comments

Where else can people go to get analysis like this? Hilarious and true.

Posted by: andy at July 27, 2004 8:26 PM

"basing their entire message on a war that was going to go away after July 1 and an economy that was certain to improve all year"

But this is just standard operating mode of the Left. Always look at the current static situation, never look more than one step ahead, never look at the dynamic situation, or which way things are moving.

Posted by: ray at July 27, 2004 10:30 PM

Folks, based on their current beliefs and available nominees, the Dems are taking their best shots. A combination of historical factors and bad luck means they're stuck with a second-rate candidate and evaporating issues. I'm sure some historian could find a past Republican nominee who was in a similar position.

It'll be interesting to see the recriminations after the election, though.

Posted by: PapayaSF at July 27, 2004 11:28 PM

This may not be the best example of a clueless Republican candidate, but I keep thinking of Alf Landon, Roosevelt's punching bag in the'36 campaign: favorite son from a smallish state with no national reputation, seemingly ignoring the troubles of the past years while offering nothing wanted by the people of the time.

I believe everybody recognized Landon as dead in the water except for the candidate himself and the editors of LITERARY DIGEST magazine, who called the election for Landon in a poll who flaws were picked apart in the book HOW TO LIE WITH STATISTICS.

Posted by: John Barrett Jr. at July 27, 2004 11:42 PM

Andy:

That's why I love this site! Agree or disagree with OJ, he packs serious editorial heft into a couple of sentences. That one was another "bingo."

Posted by: Matt at July 28, 2004 12:07 AM
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