Some myths of politics

[hedgehog]

"People hate the person who throws mud."

That explains why McCain thrashed Bush so soundly in South Carolina after Bush spread rumors about McCain's adopted daughter.


"Democratic candidates must run to the middle to win an election."

That explains why Humphrey, Gore and Kerry started to climb in the polls when they threw caution to the wind and ran to the left late in their election campaigns.

[unpossibles]

1. well... I do think people tend to dislike mud slinging

but people are also suckers sometimes for bad information - in other words, unless they are told it's not true by the media (HA!) they'll believe it.

[Basileus Basileon]

2. It's interesting the three you pick to prove that Dems must run to the left.

All lost narrowly. Who did win recently? Carter and Clinton--and Carter only once, after the Nixon disaster.

[hedgehog]

3. I don't have the time to search out the history of the polling trends.

I just remember lack luster and frustrating campaigns that took on sudden life when the candidate started talking like a Democrat. It was always too little, too late. Just once, I'd like to have a candidate out there talking like a Democrat from the start. I'm so tired of candidates trying for Republican respectability. I'd like to see someone scare Wall Street instead of pandering to it. It might get more people out to vote.

[sandnsea]

4. Clinton promised economic reform

Universal health care, jobs, tax reform, opportunity, cuz he related because he was from a little town called Hope.

He didn't run the first time on centrism either.