Come on down South, John Kerry!

[Nicholas_J]

By Fran Marscher

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. – If John Kerry wants to be president, he ought to come down South and ask us Southerners to vote for him. Say it nicely, and we might do it.
It makes us mad that Republican candidates for president have come to taking us for granted and Democrats have come to ignoring us. Give us a little credit. We don't put up forever with somebody blowing smoke and calling it incense.










Think about it. We in the South are ranked highest in areas we don't want (school dropout rates, illiteracy, malnutrition, infant mortality, poverty) and lowest on what we do want (educational achievement, access to healthcare, good incomes). It's clear as day that some things need to change. I've been building up a list.

Something's got to be done about the exploding cost of healthcare, and President Bush is not going to do it. You can tell by the new Medicare prescription-drug law - which prohibits negotiating prices with drug companies. That makes a lot of us mad.

The president came up with a clever name for his education initiative - "No Child Left Behind" - then didn't fund it fully. That, too, makes a lot of us mad. Water and air get dirty and wild places get ruined if nobody holds to sound environmental law. Mr. Bush cannot bring himself to make industry do anything that might cost money. That makes more of us mad. People can't pay their bills on the federal minimum wage, now $5.15 per hour, and we know the Republicans are not going to raise it. That makes many of us mad, too.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0504/p09s03-coop.html


I have said that Kerry is wisely avoiding a win with the south strategy, but have indicated that one state that could be turned around is SOuth Carolina, much there favors Kerry. The largest population of ex veterans in the U.S., a Democratic majority that does not vote as 47 of it consists of black voteres who feel very disenfranchised by the power players in that state. THe correct strategy could win South Carolina for Kerry faster than any other state.

[flpoljunkie]

1. Thanks for your post.

Great article!

[chimpymustgo]

2. Come on down, Kerry - and bring Johnnie Reid with you.

I really abhor the strategy of neglecting ANY area of the country. Kerry needs to try to unite this country - and he can only do that by campaigning across the country, and winning in every region.

South Carolina is possible - with it's huge black vote, large military/veteran vote, and a competitive Senate race - we can't ignore it.

I think Edwards would also put NC, VA, TN, KY, ARK, LA, WVA in play. And his populism will help Kerry in the Midwest.

We need to take this fight, if not to every state - at least every region. We can win.

Kerry/Edwards '04. And beyond...

[Nicholas_J]

3. I live in an area

of Florida within a 30 minute drive of Georgia, and an hour of Alabama, and a lot of my local radio and television either services these areas or is served by them. While the city I live in is the most Republican in the entire state, those other areas are not as markedly divided. There are possbilities for Georgia that have not been looked at right now.

[pop goes the weasel]

4. ignoring the South is foolish

Even if Kerry can't win a Southern state, he still needs to campaign in each Southern state. We have Democratic candidates for House, legislature, and other offices, that need the boost that comes with having a presidential candidate campaign.

[DaveSZ]

5. I agree we can't ignore the South

Someone like John Edwards speaking for out Southern Congressional candidates could help quite a bit as well.

[chimpymustgo]

6. I agree with Howard Dean here (at least the spirit of what he was saying)

(not the way he said it)

But we have STRONG arguments to take to Southerners. We need to make them, and win them over. No, we won't get everyone, and we won't win every Southern state. But we have to show the courage of our convictions to go there and make our case.

And we have to help "down ticket".

Kerry can do it.

Kerry/Edwards - even better.

[IronLionZion]

7. Don't a lot of Southerners hate people from New England?

I was under the impression that they would rather vote for a local guy than vote based on the issues that benefit them. That's why Clinton did so well there. Gore spent more time in DC than in Tennesee so he doesn't count.

[pop goes the weasel]

9. works both ways

and is not a good excuse for candidates to not campaign in the region they face the most prejedice in. In fact, it's a good reason to put *more* effort into those areas.

[blm]

8. I think SC and NC are in play BIGTIME.

I think EVERY state with significant numbers of military and veterans is in play.

[rads]

10. Not to mention

The heavily-outsourced textile industry, which is huge in NC and SC.

[newyawker99]

17. Hi rads!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[SangamonTaylor]

11. I was lucky to see Kerry here in Houston on Earth Day!

I saw Kerry speak here at the University of Houston (where I'm a law student), and he was great. He focused on many environmental problems, that we know about so well, breathing the nations 2nd worst air. The theme (w/ signed everywhere) was "A Clean Environment = A Strong Economy." One of his best moments was when he described how Kennedy, in pushing our nation to the moon, had brought technology as a national priority, and provided so many jobs and benefits to our city (NASA). He said that he wanted to bring back that national desire, striving to achieve similar lofty goals and advancements in technology with his 2020 Plan (20% renewable/alternate electricity production by 2020).

I'd venture to guess, though, that his primary reason for being in town was to go raise some millions with John O'Quinn, seeing as he was rounding the country doing lots of fundraising. I remember right before Super Tuesday that O'Quinn had a huge fundraiser for John Edwards (a fellow trial attorney) at his house (too bad I didn't have the $500 cover...hehe), and I wouldn't be surprised if the O-man was raising some dough for Kerry while he was in town.

[Claire Beth]

12. I'm in TN...

and almost everyone I know is NOT voting for Bush in November. Lots of people are very disgusted with they way things are going and want a change! I've heard LOTS of people who voted for Bush in 2000 say there is no way they're voting for him in 2004!!!

I agree, Kerry needs to be campaigning some here in the south but I'm voting for Kerry no matter what.

[Scoopie]

14. I live in the Republican (East) side of TN

And Kerry fans are crawling out of the woodwork.

Kerry needs to keep Clark and Cleland down here to swoop up that military vote!! :)

[Claire Beth]

16. wonderful!

I love hear Kerry is doing well in TN. I know people are fed up with Bush*.

[amazona]

13. he and his wife have come to Louisiana

Maybe Louisiana is not the south South because of its own weird history but they seem to be paying a lot of attention to us, which I think is a good thing.

[ShaneGR]

15. Don't worry, he'll send Edwards on his behalf to lighten the mood

Then he'll come.

[democratreformed]

18. Kerry to visit Little Rock, AR next Wednesday May 12

according to Channel 11 news this morning. That will be right after *'s visit to Fort Smith (I think they said Tuesday).