Dem Primaries 2004: The "Running Interference" Theory !!!

[WillyT]

A week or so back, as Kerry was racking up victory after victory, or at least coming in first in most primaries, and looking like the presumptive nominee, a couple of the pundit class were opining that Kerry might not want this thing to be totally over right now. That it was in his interest, and in the interest of the Democratic Party to keep a race going in order to have the media focused on their candidates, and on their issues.

They were basically saying that it would be better to string this process along, and have Dean, Edwards, Kucinich, etc... "Running Interference" for Kerry, than it would be to end the debate between Dem candidates, and allow the rePuke machine to train all guns on Kerry and start firing away from now until November.

I have NO evidence that any campaigns are buying into this theory, or have made any agreements on the sly.

But the question remains, as a purely Dem Party strategy move: Do we want all the candidates, besides Kerry, to close up their campaigns and unite behind Kerry now?

I ask because I see threads every now and then calling for so and so to "give it up." And while I understand that sentiment, I wonder if our front-runner and presumptive nominee wants that, or if carrying this thing on for another few weeks would be more to his advantage.

I really don't know what to think here!

:shrug:

You???

[NewYorkerfromMass]

1. At least one freeper agrees:

I think Dean/Edwards helps Kerry.

It keeps the facade up that there's still a race for the nomination, leading to glowing kissy-poo coverage of Kerry for each successive primary that he wins.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1078800/posts?page=16#16

[WillyT]

2. Not Exactly The Endorsement I Was Looking For, But Ok, LOL !!!

:hi::shrug::hi:

[DenverDem]

3. Other candidates can/should attack Bush and push the policy debate left of

center so Kerry can appear centrist and "Presidential"i.e. above (legitimately) attacking Bushler. As such, the other candidates are very useful to the party and the presumptive nominee.

Before Dean blazed a trail through the jungle, no candidate had the guts to attack Bush, even though he is emminently vulnerable. This is one reason that the "other" candidates receive little policy coverage because the power elite media does not want the debate moved left of center.

[BruinAlum]

4. I agree that the longer there are other candidates in the race the better

I hope they continue to have debates too because it's free exposure. The longer they can all collectively point their guns toward Bush the better.

[WillyT]

5. Yeah... On The One Hand...

I'm lovin the erosion of support * is enduring while the Dem candidates argue forcefully over his incompetence. I'm bettin you could plot a straight line of correspondence between the beginning of the Dem primary season, and Chimpboy's poll numbers. As long as there are multiple candidates, the White House has to be selective in its response. That's good for our side, I think.

OTOH - I'm lookin forward to that period where we lick our wounds and unite behind a candidate. Cause I've grown profoundly weary of the infighting. And would love to see something resembling a unified front.

Peace!!!

:hi:

[stickdog]

6. Kerry is being helped, not hurt, by Dean staying in the race.

Once Dean gets out, the vultures will descend on Kerry so fast it will make your head spin!

[WillyT]

7. Weird... They're Talking About This Exact Same Thing On Hardball !!!

Woo, Hoo!!!

I guess...

LOL!

:hi:

[silver state d]

8. I love these guys

i think the primary at this point only makes us stronger for all the reasons mentioned above. because of the primary i have met tons of fired up folks ready to kick ass in November. the vast majority of them bear no grudges against rival candidates or activists. i wont have to reach out far to bring together a small army. i caucused for Edwards but i just cant believe how much good stuff the other guys brought. Thank you Dean and Clark and even Al and Dennis. Its been great and i am not quite ready for it to end.

[WillyT]

9. Well Put !!! --- And Welcome To The DU silver state d !!!

:bounce::kick::bounce:

Couldn't agree more!

:yourock:

[WillyT]

10. Theoretical Kick !!!

Hmmm... :kick:

:smoke::hippie::smoke:

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

11. The Ongoing Primaries Represent a form of Free Publicity

Free Advertising for Kerry. The weekly message is "Kerry = Winner". Democratic voters energized, record turnouts. The record turnout/energized base thing is really big BTW. There are plenty of people in this country who hate Shrub but feel disenfranchised and like there's no point in voting because the whole country is Repub. You would hardly have known there are any Democrats in this country the last few years to read/listen/watch the media. To the extent these discouraged would be voters see the fired up Dems ready to go to war they start to realize, "hey maybe this thing is turning after all!"

Of course this publicity "costs" in terms of the ongoing campaign costs, but I imagine the need for intensive ad blitzes is less than earlier (is this true?), and is to some degree compensated for by the fact that money rolls in more regularly to the frontrunner. I assume the ongoing costs are more than justified by the "free" publicity/coverage.

Meanwhile the shrub is looking for more Daytonas. Maybe he can look "presidential" judging some wet T-shirt contests somewhere and mouth some platitudes about WMD and terrorism...

[WillyT]

12. Exactly !!!

It's been workin wonders so far.

:bounce: