Kerry’s Choices
Perhaps too late, the Kerry campaign has discovered that it needs a theme, a focus point, if it wants to win in November. BJ, from his sick bed, moaned “Forget Vietnam, damnit!” So, just what are Kerry’s choices?
The economy can be portrayed as weak, and blamed on George Bush. We’re in the final stages of a transition to a new type of economy. Call it an “Internet economy” or a “microchip economy” or whatever. Big factories pounding out big machines are no longer in America’s future. During the transition, the economy can be an issue.
Healthcare could be an issue, but the focus needs to be carefully thought out. Two rich guys with Congressional health coverage are harding in a position to complain about much. And Americans hate trial lawyers, and Edwards is one, so the tack taken with this issue has to be very narrow and sharply defined.
Foreign affairs rarely moves American campaigns. Absent some outstanding event in the next two month, the topic should be avoided by Kerry.
Local issues with the Federal government would be a good play for the Kerry campaign. Every state, most localities, has a bitch with the Feds about something. A wise and thoughtful campaign highlighting the various issues would be very effective. All politics are local, after all. Base closings, overregulation of local industries, immigration, and more.
Finally, as Peggy Noonan, Micky Kaus and others have opined, Americans may be inclined to take a breather after the events of the last three years. A kinder, gentler Kerry may offer that relief.
Now, all of these suggestions presuppose that the Kerry campaign has the willingness and the ability to focus, and to use thoughtful electioneering to make its case. To this point, they have not shown that ability or willingness. Indeed, this campaign has the potential to be one of the worst run campaigns by a major party in history.
Yay!
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