BEEP, BEEP:

Kerry Sharpens Contrast With Bush: Campaign Takes the Offensive as GOP Attacks Senator's Record (Jim VandeHei, September 2, 2004, Washington Post)

After huddling with top staff in recent days in Nantucket, Kerry plans a more aggressive campaign style in the final two months -- starting with Wednesday's speech, aides said.

Joe Lockhart, the Clinton White House spokesman who was hired to sharpen and simplify Kerry's message, is taking a prominent, some say the preeminent, leadership role in a department largely bereft of advisers with considerable presidential-level experience. In an interview Wednesday, he promised that no attack would go unanswered.

Despite losing ground in polls, Kerry believes he has cleared the national security hurdle with most voters and plans to focus mostly on health care and the economy leading up to Nov. 2, Lockhart said.

The Kerry Campaign should be on Cartoon Network, because the Senator is turning into Wile E. Coyote. In the first place, they can't conceivably believe that he's cleared the commander-in-chief hurdle, can they? Secondly, they created the current mess by trying to answer charges that were better ignored. If they start wasting time answering for every inexplicable vote the Senator has cast over the past twenty years they'll bury their own message every single day from now until Election Day.

MORE:
DEMS' DEADLY DIVIDE (DICK MORRIS, September 2, 2004, NY Post)

In an incredibly striking contrast, Bush voters are united on virtually all the questions that divide the Kerry vote. So Bush can advance his agenda with impunity while taking aim at Kerry voters who are antagonized by their candidate whenever he has to choose a position. [...]

Rasmussen asked if Iraq was a part of the War on Terror or a distraction from it. Republicans overwhelmingly said it was integral — by 79-14. But Democrats were divided. Half said it is a distraction — but 36 percent felt it was a key part of the war effort.

So what is Kerry to say? Either way, he loses votes. And if he waffles, he strengthens his reputation for flip-flopping.

Should we give a priority to finishing the mission in Iraq or to bringing the troops home? Republicans say "stay the course," 71-23. Democrats divide: 54 percent say "come home"; 37 percent want us to finish the mission.

Who is winning the War on Terror? Republicans say we are, 77-10. Democrats divide almost equally, with 33 percent saying America is winning and 42 percent saying the terrorists are gaining the upper hand.

So how is Kerry to characterize the war? Say it's a success — and alienate 42 percent of his vote — or call it a failure — and drive away 33 percent?

Republicans are sure, by 67-12, that if we'd left Saddam in power, life in America would be more dangerous. Democrats again divide, with 20 percent saying life is safer because he is out, and 34 percent saying it's not.

Should the United States follow the lead of its allies more than we do now? Republicans say "No," 72-5; 44 percent of the Democrats say "Yes," and 19 percent say "No."

So, on each of these issues, whenever Kerry opens his mouth, he loses.

There's your epitaph for the Kerry candidacy: every time he opened his mouth he lost.

Posted by Orrin Judd at September 2, 2004 3:21 PM