Kerry's campaign evaluation
Well, which is it? Is Kerry's campaign asleep at the helm, and ceding the momentum to Bush, as claims Joe Trippi? Or is Kerry being remarkably competitive, holding his own against a popular incumbent despite having been the focus of a coordinated, multi-million dollar smear campaign, as claims Chris Bowers at Daily Kos?
A little bit of both, actually.
Kerry's campaign staff has ballooned, and the resulting inertia makes it hard for the organization to spin on a dime. Hence the slow, largely defensive response to the Swift Boat smears. But despite that, Bush's victory is in no way guaranteed given his poll situation, one that no previous incumbent has ever prevailed against.
2004 is 2004, not 1968 or 1980 or any other year we want to invoke to justify our pet analysis of the moment. The reality is that Kerry and Bush are in a close race. Either side can stumble, or rally, for that matter. The bulk of the independent voters won't even decide until the final days of October.
This election will be decided in the endgame.
A little bit of both, actually.
Kerry's campaign staff has ballooned, and the resulting inertia makes it hard for the organization to spin on a dime. Hence the slow, largely defensive response to the Swift Boat smears. But despite that, Bush's victory is in no way guaranteed given his poll situation, one that no previous incumbent has ever prevailed against.
2004 is 2004, not 1968 or 1980 or any other year we want to invoke to justify our pet analysis of the moment. The reality is that Kerry and Bush are in a close race. Either side can stumble, or rally, for that matter. The bulk of the independent voters won't even decide until the final days of October.
This election will be decided in the endgame.
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