The REASON why Bush is head in the polls, is because...

[jab105]

Kerry is making the focus of his campaign Kerry...with a 20 year senate record and a rabid dog Republican attack machine, that is honestly the stupidest thing he could possibly do!!

I know we are all in denial here, gee I must be a freeper, gee, only Nov. 2nd matters...gee, polls are supposed to be Republican or whatever...but thats not it...look at the polls on leadership, look at the polls on who would do a better job on terrorism, a better job on the war in Iraq...BUsh is GAINING, WTF!!!

Kerry is focusing on Kerry, why Kerry should be the president...what Kerry did 35 years ago...what Kerry voted for in the past...

But its not about Kerry...its about Bush...why Bush shouldn't be president...we need to make the public want a chewup up gumball over Bush...

If Kerry continues to focus on Kerry, he will lose...period...he must focus on Bush, and only Bush...

Think about 1992, do you have any idea what Clinton did as Governor of Arkansas?? No, not at all...it was just about Bush (41)...that's the way to win (period).

[Jack_Dawson]

1. People are Insanely Dumb/Uninformed

[Skittles]

6. it shocks me

there's a misconception even here in the DU that only really stupid, undeducated people support Bush - but I work with highly educated professionals who are so ignorant it boggles the mind. Too much corporate media has absolutely brainwashed them - they can't even hold an intelligent conversation because all they have is FOX or Limbaugh talking points. It is scary.

[lancdem]

2. He is talking now about Bush

but in retrospect the decision to make the DNC just about Kerry and not about Bush's bad record was a bonehead move that cost him dearly.

[earthside]

13. Dem Convention Was Good

I disagree about the DNC ... that was an important place for the challenger to present himself and his party in the best possible light. Remember, you don't defeat somebody with nobody. I believe that the positive tone of the Boston convention will still be a big plus for Kerry, he can always point to it as his attempt to discuss issues ... as opposed to the negative GOP hatefest.

But I do agree that Kerry has got to stop doing flip charts on Medicare.

Iraq is falling into a black hole of chaos. It is time NOW for Kerry to start taking Bush apart as an incompetent commander-in-chief. NOW!

In Colorado early voting starts in just over a month. Kerry cannot wait much longer to tell us why Bush should not and must not be rehired.

I am optimistic about Kerry winning ... but the Kerry campaign must take down Bush on his alleged strong point, this 'war on terror'. And since Iraq is the main battleground for that war, Kerry has to point out that under Bush's "leadership" things have gone from bad to worse.

Finally, I keep hearing that Kerry is not doing press availability with the traveling national press corps. Boy! That has got to stop. We should be seeing a clip everyday on the national broadcast and cable news featuring Kerry. If Kerry isn't chatting and socializing on camera with the national press, how are we ever going to get comfortable with him.

So, my suggestion is that everyone take these points and e-mail them to the Kerry campaign. Maybe they will get the message that NOW is the time to crank it up!

[veteran_for_peace]

3. Kerry has been slamming Bush

He has been very aggressive about Bush's failures. Just because you don't see it on the news doesn't mean that he isn't doing it. Keep the faith. Get out the message and register a new voter.

[Raya]

4. Ridicuous! The Party Nominated Kerry and should have Defended Kerry and

Bashed Bush, come hell or high water.

It is Rove who made Kerry the subject from the start.
Even before the primaries were in full swing there was a major
opo-research campaign which was putting out negatives on Kerry,
including flip-flop theme and many of the SvetSmear lies.

Kerry suffered even in the primaries when these lies were used
against him. Rove picked up the smear campaign as soon as Kerry
sealed the nomination.

It is simply false that Kerry talked excessively about himself in
his campaigning.

[hansolsen]

5. Because he has offered no real alternatives in Iraq. That's why. N/T

[w4rma]

9. He actually has. But if he was more specific it would be nitpicked

and nitpicked and nitpicked by big media until even you thought it was the worst idea ever.

[Cyrano]

7. The reason is the media.

Bush cuts a fart and gets covered. Kerry blasts Bush on one thing or another and he's lucky to get 30 seconds on the news.

Outside of Air America Radio, (and recently CBS), the media is an extension of the Republican party.

To get any meaningful coverage Kerry would have to say something outrageous such as, "It's a known fact that George W. Bush's girlfriend in 1973 was a sheep."

[Fridays Child]

8. Kerry HAS been bringing up B*sh's horrible record. It's not enough...

...when the Republican Party owns the mainstream media--lock, stock, and barrel. We have to keep uncovering the truth about Chimpy's past because the only way to get them off the GOP kibble is to throw them a hunk of bloody, red meat.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

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[w4rma]

11. Liberals are fast learners. (nt)

[Lactar]

12. Not fast enough

Not by a long shot. Politics gets messier and messier, and
except in rare cases (Jack Ryan of Illinois, anybody) the
media isnt helpful, and the dems cant pull it off. This is NOT
the time to pick a tactic we are not practiced with.

[VOX]

15. By all means, let's take the high road...

NOT.

[VOX]

16. If *-bashing will "backfire," what tactic would you recommend?

Eager to hear.

[Snivi Yllom]

14. disagree

respectfully

Kerry wont win just by going negative although he is in a situation where he needs to attack

and Kerry is no Clinton