Kerry not campaigning in Oklahoma ??

[welshTerrier2]

i've heard reports that Kerry missed a debate in Oklahoma ... that he's not been in the state ... that he's not been running TV ads in the state ... is this true ?

the question is: why not? will Kerry actively campaign in Oklahoma this week ??

if not, or if he makes only a minimal effort, i was thinking about why that might be ... so far, i've thought through two possibilities ...

1. he can't cover all the primary states during this next week ... he's "picking his battles" and rationing his resources ...

2. he's shopping for a VP ... he's setting up a contest between Edwards and Clark to see how they fare head to head ...

comments?? other ideas??

[Democrats unite]

1. 1. Arrogance & big head come to mind

2. See #1.

3. He can shop all he wants, I know Clark & Dean won't be his VP & Edwards I doubt. Kerry is going to want an Washington insider like himself to help do his bidding.

[welshTerrier2]

8. you'll excuse me

if i suggest your post is not responsive ...

i must say, i really don't understand DU'ers who waste their time posting vacuous criticisms of any democratic candidate ... and my point isn't to disagree, or agree, with your characterization of Kerry ... i just don't see how your response contributes to the dialog on DU ... to put it succinctly, you didn't answer the question ...

if you want to make a case that Kerry is so arrogant that he believes he doesn't even need to campaign, then have at it ... but make sure you explain, then, why he's bothering to campaign in so many other states ...

i'm also very impressed with how exacting you are in your prediction that neither Clark nor Dean would be willing to be his VP ... that you can not only be inside the heads of these great men but also see into the future and know exactly how they will react when called on to help their party's ticket is almost awe inspiring ...

[spooky3]

12. if you don't mind my interrupting the conversation

While your original post is honest, if you will put yourself in the shoes of the Clark and Edwards supporters, you would realize that most do NOT believe that the race is over at this point, in part because Kerry has not won in THEIR "backyards" whereas he's had the chance to beat them in his. Therefore, to some of us, your post (not Kerry) may come across as arrogant in that it implies that Kerry has a right to pick between two viable candidates to place them in a subordinate job at this point. Now can you get a better sense of the reaction that you provoked?

In response to your original question, I agree with your first alternative. Another possibility is that he is afraid he will lose some states badly and wants to avoid the bad press that may follow, but I don't believe that is true.

[welshTerrier2]

13. don't mind at all

always glad to have additional perspective provided ...

let me respond to what you said in this way:

your post (not Kerry) may come across as arrogant in that it implies ... ...

first of all, let me say that this was proposed as a hypothesis, not a recommended (i.e. arrogant) strategy ... in that i showed no endorsement whatsoever for Kerry taking this action, I do not see how you can suggest my post "implied" anything ...

secondly, i would hardly consider anyone arrogant if they believed Kerry had the nomination sewn up ... it doesn't mean they're right; it doesn't mean they're wrong ... it may be unpleasant for non-Kerry supporters to hear that ... i certainly understand ... but each of us is entitled to predict the nominee and some think the game is over now ... this may be overconfidence; this may be wrong; but it's just opinion, not arrogance ...

the more important point i intended in my reply (not the base post) was that it's time to stop these ad hominem attacks on all our candidates ... frankly, i'm sick of it ... Kerry is arrogant and aloof and aristocratic ... Dean is unstable ... Gore is wooden ... Hillary is hysterical ... Clark is not a man of integrity ... Edwards is inexperienced ... Lieberman is a right-winger ... Kucinich is ugly ... and Sharpton is funny ... not serious ... just funny ... STOP IT ALREADY ... the second I hear or read any of this crap, the alarm goes off ... and it's that much more sickening when it occurs on DU ... stop the crap, people ... enough is enough ...

this is not a "make nice and don't criticize" speech ... i am 100% sick and tired of vacuous, personal attacks on any of our candidates ... it furthers the republican's cause and helps spread their venomous messages that get repeated over and over and over by the media ... let's put an end to it on DU NOW !!!

edited for typo ...

[spooky3]

14. I don't disagree about the need for getting away from

ad hominem attacks or vacuous comments, and I am sure you didn't intend any harm, but I stand by my earlier comments about how your question can be seen as the very type of attack that you are objecting to, and that it is partly responsible for the reaction you received.

I also think it is VERY arrogant for anyone to believe his/her candidate has the nomination sewn up with such volatility as has occurred even as recently as two weeks ago and the two states thus far being anything but a representative sample of the population. Two weeks ago Kerry was nowhere on the radar screen; he is now a front-runner. At this stage anything can happen--even with the benefit of the bandwagon effect. It's not a matter of what you believe will happen or want to happen; it's a matter of presuming that you are right to the point of putting down other currently viable candidates. I understand you don't agree, but I don't agree with you, and I think you are out of line to blame all of the reaction on the other person.

If you really want to enhance the level of discourse, you can control it a little by taking a look at your own comments, taking responsibility for them, and stopping the ones that may cause offense. If you don't, then you won't get sympathy from others when you complain about the poor quality of discourse.

[welshTerrier2]

15. ok

i appreciate your tone and the time you took to respond ...

it looks like we'll have to let this one go at agreeing to disagree ...

[Democrats unite]

16. Tell that to the 500 plus soldiers families that won't be coming home

eom

[blm]

2. hmmm...you jogged my interest.

What you said makes sense.

Kerry really concentrated on Iowa and NH. He cut out almost everything else expensewise and put his money into those states.

His strategy did work, though. He couldn't BUY the media he's getting now for winning back to back.

[mlawson]

3. He probably doesn't need OK.

And/or think he can win it. Why waste resources there?

[sandnsea]

4. Here's the schedule

You're right, nothing in Oklahoma yet. Good news for Clark!

South Carolina

The South Carolina Campaign has gained even more momentum in the last couple of days, with the endorsement of South Carolina’s senior Senator and former Governor Fritz Hollings feeding a recent surge. With more than 400,000 veterans in South Carolina, Senator Hollings – along with the John Kerry’s Veterans Brigade – will bring four busloads of fellow veterans from all over the South to South Carolina to campaign for John Kerry in the coming days. Hollings has been reaching out to South Carolina’s mayors, elected officials, former elected officials and democratic activists across the state to tell them about John Kerry and his vision for America.

To date, the South Carolina team has secured over 22 staff in place, with 56 key supporters throughout South Carolina’s 46 counties. Six state legislators including the Chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus, the South Carolina House Minority Leader and the Senate President Pro-Tempore Emeritus have announced their support for Kerry.

Calls and e-mails are flooding into the office from people who want to volunteer between now and Election Day. The International Association of Fire Fighters and the International Longshoreman Association Local 1422 are already planning their extensive outreach efforts for the state on Kerry’s behalf. Over the next week, key Kerry supporters will campaign in South Carolina to fight for votes for John Kerry in his effort to change America, including Senator Max Cleland, Representative Gregory Meeks, Carole King, and Diana Kerry.

Missouri

In Missouri, John Kerry’s campaign has grown exponentially since the Iowa caucuses. Kerry will stop in Missouri right after the New Hampshire primary and the campaign expects a large crowd to welcome him to the state. With Roy Temple, former Chief of Staff to the late Governor Mel Carnahan, heading the state operation with 10 staffers, Kerry volunteers and supporters are appearing everywhere and plan to kick off activities with New Hampshire primary watching parties all across the state. This week, Senator Edward Kennedy, former Georgia Senator Max Cleland, Carole King and Chris Heinz will travel to Missouri to help fight for votes for John Kerry.

Arizona

Two recent polls have placed John Kerry in the lead in the state already, and he is working hard to solidify his support. There are already over 50,000 ballots out to people who have requested ballots to support Kerry for President. The large universe of volunteers is growing on a daily basis. Firefighters are staffing phone banks nightly in the state and have proven once again that they are an integral part of the John Kerry campaign. Volunteers are baking “Cookies for Kerry” and dropping them off at fire stations around the valley to thank them for their support. Seniors are also turning out in droves for Kerry at John Kerry clubs in the major seniors’ communities around the state. New Hampshire watch parties have been scheduled around the state and the response has been overwhelming.

This weekend nearly 100 volunteers from California are taking Kerry-vans to Arizona, departing from the Veterans Administration campus in Los Angeles. The volunteers, mostly veterans, will be greeted upon arrival in Arizona by Mrs. Heinz Kerry, Arizona veterans and firefighters as they start their weekend of canvassing, phone calling and reaching out to Arizona’s undecided voters.

Over the next week, in addition to Mrs. Heinz Kerry, Representative Earl Blumenauer, former Administrator of SBA Aida Alvanez, Chris Heinz, President of the International Association of Fire Fighters Harold Schaitberger, and Former HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros will travel to Arizona to help fight for votes.

Delaware

In Delaware, John Kerry’s efforts are being led by a group of five political professionals who have already organized canvassing activities, telephone banking, and rallies for Kerry. Despite the short time the office has been open, Kerry has picked up key endorsements including State Senator Pat Blevins, State Senator George H. Bunting Jr., Wilmington Council President Theodore Blunt, Sussex County Council Member Dale R. Dukes, Kent County Commissioner Richard E. Ennis, New Castle County Council Member Karen Venezky, National Committeeman Bert DiClemente, Vice Chair of the State Party Jim Hussey Jr., and New Castle County Recorder of Deeds Michael E. Kozikowski.

North Dakota

John Kerry’s visit to North Dakota in the coming week has created great excitement about the campaign in the state. The campaign has opened offices in Bismarck and Fargo with six staff members on the ground and volunteers are arriving daily. Labor unions, leaders in the Native American community, and veterans groups have already expressed support for Kerry’s candidacy, declaring that he is the candidate who can beat Bush. Former Georgia Senator Max Cleland will travel to North Dakota later on this week to help fight for votes in the state.

New Mexico

Building on the already tremendously strong support for John Kerry in New Mexico under the leadership of Lt. Governor Diane Denish and House Speaker Ben Lujan, New Mexico voters have given his campaign an enormous bump in the state following the Iowa caucus victory. With the infusion of a half-dozen enthusiastic staff members from the Iowa campaign, there are now 15 staff members and hundreds of volunteers who work out of the four campaign offices across New Mexico. Firefighters, veterans and women for Kerry organizations are growing stronger every day and will hold events throughout the week leading up to the caucuses. Last weekend the firefighters and the Kerry Core of New Mexico walked precincts across the state to encourage voters to turn in absentee ballots for John Kerry. Over 15 additional key local endorsements will be announced in the coming days.

Albuquerque Veterans for Kerry kicked off a major organizational effort this morning at the Baralas Coffee House where dozens of veterans motivated each other to call, email and visit other veterans in the hope of getting a fellow brother elected President of the United States.

The "Kerry Brigade" steps up its march across New Mexico this week with visits from Teresa Heinz Kerry, Senator Ted Kennedy and Former Housing Secretary Henry Cisneros.

[Jerseycoa]

5. He's aiming at Missouri

It makes better sense for him to try and pick up the former Gephardt vote. 11 electoral votes in Missouri; 7 in Oklahoma.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

6. He is advertising there, he bought ads in all 7 states

[Catch22Dem]

7. I don't think any ads are running yet though.

At least I haven't seen any. Actually, I've only seen Clark & Edwards ads. Might explain why they're #1 & #2 respectively.

[Myra]

9. Isn't OK in the South? Didn't Kerry sneer that he didn't need the South?

Then he should stay away.

[sandnsea]

10. He said the south isn't a foreign country

He said we have to stop treating it that way. That's what he said. He never sneered at the south. These distortions worked well for Dean, didn't they???

[seaglass]

11. I may be mistaken but I believe I heard on C-Span

this morning that OK hasn't voted for a Dem in the GE since LBJ.

I could have misheard this, but if true, I can see why it might not be top priority.

[DJcairo]

17. Kerry is running ads in all 7 states, unlike the other candidates

Get your facts straight. The Kerry camp would be crazy not to try for an all out win in all 7 next Tuesday.