August 4, 2004
SPINAL TAP MOVES WEST:
Dems' duo not a big hit on the road (Jules Witcover, August 4, 2004, Baltimore Sun)
Like the successful Democratic road show of Bill Clinton and Al Gore rolling out of the party's New York convention in 1992, John Kerry and John Edwards hit the highways together last weekend directly out of Boston, hoping to find the same winning chemistry.Traveling by bus through the key swing states of Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio before splitting up, the Democratic running mates sought to emulate the camaraderie that marked the Clinton-Gore motorcade a dozen years ago.
Despite much backslapping, hugging and words of mutual admiration among Mr. Kerry, Mr. Edwards and their accompanying families, with actor Ben Affleck thrown in, the rollout did not quite achieve the level of euphoria of the Clinton-Gore political meal on wheels.
Mr. Witcover includes everything but the real reason: contrary to popular opinion there's no passion on the Democratic side this year. A good economy, the end of the war, and a pleasant opponent do that to you. Posted by Orrin Judd at August 4, 2004 6:07 PM
The absurd top billing given to Affleck underscores the complete emptiness of the Dem ticket.
He's pretty, and he's voting for us! Vote for us too!
Posted by: Timothy at August 4, 2004 7:52 PMIt helped immensely that Clinton and Gore were smart enough to campaign in particular places that Dukakis had won handily, thereby creating the impression of excitement.
Bush and Kerry would be smart to do the same now.
Posted by: EO at August 4, 2004 9:51 PMThe main media will do whatever it can to drag the unexciting Kerry-Edwards ticket across the finish line.
Posted by: AWW at August 4, 2004 11:14 PM