Reply #10: Nothing to overcome, because....

[uberotto]

No matter who the democratic nominee, they will be labeled as a "Tax and Spend" democrat. If they claim they will not raise taxes, the message will be either drowned out by the other side saying the opposite, or will not be believed because of the perception of democrat == higer taxes. Any democratic candiate who claims they will not raise taxes looses credibility, whether the statement is true or not. Dean gains a great deal of credibility with his statement on taxes. People believe him because he isn't telling them "what they want to hear".

Lower taxes is a Republican issue and no candidate is going to beat bush fighting him in his own yard.

The same goes for any republican trying to label themself as the candidate for better health care. bush can say it, but no one is going to believe it.