Kerry's Appeal Is He's Electable

[DrFunkenstein]

MANCHESTER (AP) - Sen. John Kerry's strength as a Democratic primary candidate is that he is electable, some voters said as Kerry campaigned in the state Saturday.

<>

Kerry was mobilizing his presidential campaign forces with his largest canvassing effort in the state to date.

More than 300 supporters, including many from his native Massachusetts, went door- to-door in Manchester, Concord, Derry, Dover and Nashua. Kerry urged them on at a morning appearance at his Manchester headquarters.

One supporter who attended a house party for Kerry in Hopkinton said he would rather vote for former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, but felt Kerry was more likely to get elected. He didn't want to see a replay of the 2000 presidential election when Ralph Nader took votes from Democratic candidate Al Gore, allowing George Bush to take the White House, he said.

Elliott Berry, a legal aid lawyer, said he has not settled on a candidate. What impresses him most about Kerry is his experience, he said.

"He has the appearance of being highly electable," Berry said.

Many other voters said the same thing.

"I like Dean, but he's not electable," said Ron Ramsey farther down the street. Kerry is electable, but as a Teamster, Ramsey will be voting for Missouri congressman Richard Gephardt, he said.

Kerry was promoting his ability to get elected as he spoke to voters at the house party later in the day.

"I believe one of the great strengths I bring to this race is my ability to win against George Bush," he said.

Whit Symmes of Concord listened to Kerry at the house party and said he was impressed. His fears that Kerry was too much of an insider were laid to rest, he said. Kerry came across as a "strong and independent thinker," he said.

Many others liked his talk about foreign policy and his pledge to work more closely with other nations in addressing problems, such as nuclear proliferation, chemical and biological weapons. If elected president, one of his first acts would be to build a better relationship with the United Nations, Kerry said.

http://www.theunionleader.com/prez_show.html?article=24784

[JohnKleeb]

1. other than that he is a pretty cool guy and I agree with him on many thing

[VoteClark]

2. Yeah but Dean can get the under 18 vote.

To bad they can't vote though. We will have to stick with Kerry until someone better comes into the race.


:kick:
J4Clark

[JohnKleeb]

3. *knocks at VoteClark's door*

I am under 18 and NOT for Dean at the moment. Two of my DU buddies under 18 are only because he is electable and they arent totally for him either, I got another for Kerry, and I got another who thinks either Kerry or Dean would be great. So no youngsters sterotyping m'kay and theres a bunch of young kids working hard for DK. :) so dont judge k.

[VoteClark]

8. You watch South Park too M'Kay?

:9


:kick:
J4Clark

[JohnKleeb]

9. M'kay

yeah I do

[acerbic]

4. Yet another "relevant comment" from the one

...whose coherence and sincerity is well demonstrated by this example:

Clark Favors End to Gay Ban in Military
Tell me this, wonderful, awesome,man is not a Democrat
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=108&topic_id=16140&mesg_id=16140

Why Dean Can Not Win the General Election
1) He is known for his Civil Unions bill. He is tagged permently by the right and media as being someone that is going to give gays equal rights. This is a real
fear amoung many conservatives and moderates in the Southern and Western States. He will never be able to shake the pro-gay label and will lose 2 votes
for every one he gets in key moderate states.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=108&topic_id=16783&mesg_id=16783

[VoteClark]

6. Yes Generals are know for their extreme liberalism

Big difference between the two. It is much harder to point a General and say "gay lover", then it is to point to a Governor who signed a bill into law that gave Gays equal rights and opposes the war. Again, it is the overall image. There is also a BIG difference between changing "Don't Ask Don't Tell" to "Don't Ask Don't Misbehave" VS. telling people you will Give gays equal rights with Civil Unions.

:kick:
J4Clark

[JohnKleeb]

10. Dude if Dean was such a "gay lover" and btw

thats kinda right wingish acting. Dean doesnt even support literal gay marriage. He only opposed the war with out the UN's consent other than that hes the anti liberal mostly. He is not Howard "McGovern" Dean if that were the case why would I a liberal choose not to support him only if hes the nominee.

[Egnever]

5. kinda funny that you post that

right after an under 18 kucinich suporter posts.

[JohnKleeb]

11. lol thanks for the wit Egnever

I am not Dean's biggest fan but I dont think hes Howard "McGovern" Dean. Also the other under 18 Dean supporters I know here only support him because hes electable and they like his appeal but they are still my friends. I prefer Dean to Clark any day I will say that.

[greyl]

7. Convoluted, circular, begging the question logic.

Isn't that like saying that Budweiser's appeal is that it sells well? (in the context of a group of finer beers) I mean given an informed taste-tested choice, most people wouldn't choose bud.


Hmm. I'm not sure I made a very strong point here afterall...
Maybe it's because of these crappy budweiser cans I've been pulling the lever on. ;)


But anyway, that vote for them because "they're electable" thing really makes no sense. Much like "Survival of the Fittest". Fittest for what? Fittest for Survival.
It just falls apart when you look at it closely.

[disgruntella]

12. doesn't "being electable" means "able to beat bush"

I can understand how that phrase looks circular, but I think when people talk about candidates being "electable" they mean "could get enough votes to defeat Bush in 2004"

Then again, it's all speculation really... any candidate who can drum up enough support is "electable" in theory... and any candidate who *does* drum up sufficient support is electable in practice, on election day.

Whoah... heavy... I'm going to bed, lol
:boring:

[Lexingtonian]

13. It's not articulate

so let me suggest a translation: he's good enough in substance to be a President and now (we) think he's good enough in style to get elected.

That's where the categorical distinctions are in the present race. There are all kinds of people running for the Democratic nomination that miss one or the other. My impression is that a lot of people don't see (a) Presidential level ability to govern in a number of the candidates (e.g. Sharpton, Moseley-Braun, Kucinich, Gephardt, Edwards) or (b) inability to become the sort of persona that attracts anywhere near enough votes to most of the rest (e.g. Biden, Lieberman).

The doubts about Dean for the electorate tend, to my observations, to be in realm (a), the ones about Kerry have been in realm (b). At DU people tend to buy into a candidate and then expect them to discover and repair their weaknesses; Out There the mass of people rewards candidates who meet their hopes but hold no expectations of reform of individual ones. Such it is.

[Shanty Oilish]

14. The meaning of electable.

Very nearly half of everyone who voted in 2000, voted for Bush. They'll probably return to the polls in 2004. The electable Dem is the one who'll take the most votes from that group. I fear if Dean is nominated, those people will just stay home altogether.
But that might work :)

[tedoll78]

15. What I'm trying to figure-out..

when you're at a MeetUp, ask the people there who's new to politics. At least 40% will raise their hands. I'm wondering if Dean's going to bring a new group of people to the polls. Even 5% more going into the 'D' column would be significant.

[Byronic]

16. Not just that of course

I think John Kerry's message is very positive. Of course the primary campaign will get nasty, they usually do, but hopefully all Democrats will be united in the desire to beat Bush next year.

I like a lot about Kerry. I think he is inspirational. He does have a very compelling story and has impeccable liberal credentials over many years. For those that are worried about choosing the right man to take on the Bush juggernaut it is interesting to remember a point that John McCain made. He said he thought that Kerry would be "a bulldog" in a presidential campaign. Kerry won't quit. Kerry won't be browbeaten by Bush. He won't be bullied by Bush. He sure as hell won't be out-thought or out-debated by Bush. So Bush will resort to smears as he usually does. But I have a feeling that the usurper will find the bulldog snapping right back at his heels.

And, hey, won't it be something to have a windsurfing poet in the White House?

John Kerry for President - Making America Dream Again!

[chimpymustgo]

17. I see Kerry having broad based appeal across regions and

demographics - same as Edwards.

We must get the minority vote, poor, middle class, rural and suburban swing voters.

[DrFunkenstein]

18. Kerry Matches Well Against Commander AWOL

This will be a crucial consideration in the South, where terms like duty, honor, service are more than lip-service. Kerry is unlikely to carry the South, but his war credentials might give him a state or two that would normally go Bush.

The coasts like his liberal policies, and will take almost every state unless Bush captures Osama or something (when no one could win). The heartland will be a big contest, but Kerry will do well from his strong labor support.

What I find most impressive is the ways in which Bush and Kerry's lives mirror each other. Both were born into the elite class in Boston, but Kerry chose a life of disciplined public service and giant-slaying Congressional investigations while Bush coasted on his daddy's coattails - amassing business failures, cocaine charges, drunk driving, public disorderliness, and failing to even show up for his last year of draft dodging.

But beyond that, Kerry's military service runs well against ALL of Bush's Pentagon hawks, John Ashcroft, Karl Rove, and Dick Cheney.

Kerry is a cautious warrior in the mold of the wildly popular Colin Powell (I don't like him, but the vast majority of Americans adore him). And - like Powell - Kerry believes if you are going to commit, you commit ALL THE WAY. Bush has a history of half-assed military tactics, not least of which is the Tora Bora debacle. Kerry doesn't even believe in major bombing efforts, which are not very effective. He believes very strongly in using overwhelming force through ground forces.

Kerry is the epitome of intelligent strength.

[SyracuseDemocrat]

19. That's a great picture

:)

[TheDonkey]

20. Kerry is an electable Liberal!

I like Dean but he is a centrist with a plan to get elected (not easily electable). I can see both being elected over Bush.