Something to keep in mind if media is brutalizing your guy:

[AP]

The media was never more brutal to any president (Nixon included) than it was to Clinton. Clinton won reelection. (OK, so the worst of the media treatment came after 96, but it was still bad before that.)

Furthermore, Gore was totally brutalized, and it still took a Supreme Court to install Bush.

I'm definitely NOT saying that we should be complacent.

What I'm saying is (1) all is not lost if the media is lying about the candidates, and (2) even a mediocre campaigner was able to keep the race tight in the face of the nastiest slam job by the media in modern times.

So, if the media is brutalizing your candidate, the next question to ask is, 'is it working?' If it is, you might want to ask yourself if your candidates is a better campaigner or a worse campaigner than Gore and whether that's going to influence your support.

[BootinUp]

1. Tough to judge a candidate

if he hasn't been brutalized yet...just noting that Edwards has yet to be tested in the National Media Spin cycle.

:hi:

[blm]

4. They were savaging Edwards last spring.

They treated him like a nonentity for not catching fire after an initial surge. Then they wrote him off, along wiith Kerry. They pulled through in spite of the media.

[Justice]

5. They Already Started Laying Hints

I hear them say -- do you think people support him because they are struck by his presence and delivery -- or do you think it is the substance of what he is saying -- sort of question

[AP]

6. breck girl, why's he running for senate and pres, inexperienced

trial lawyer, Edwards who?, what's he polling at? Not catching fire? Ignored.

He hasn't been really brutalized (because it would be unseemly to attack such a nice guy who lost a son), but they definitely think they know where his soft spots are, and they've been working them hard, without a ton of success.

[Justice]

2. Interesting, Agree, But

would be nice to see others stick up for other candidates, and not let them be brutalized alone.

For example, Kerry this week let Clark take the whole "deserter" thing - left him hanging. Now Kerry is going to hire a PI to check it out. Seems like Kerry could have had more courage to stand with Clark.

[gWbush is Mabus]

3. I do not agree

The Media is WAY worse now.

Rove made it that way.

There has never been anything like this before.