Kerry's campaign zeros in on middle-of-the-road voters

[papau]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/elections/orl-asecanalysis30073004jul30,1,4431295.story?coll=orl-home-promo

ANALYSIS
Kerry's campaign zeros in on middle-of-the-road voters

By Mark Silva | Sentinel Political Editor
Posted July 30, 2004

BOSTON -- John Kerry and the Democratic Party that nominated the Massachusetts senator for president have succeeded at portraying a party committed to domestic prosperity, national security and moral leadership in a world at war.

The question is: Who will believe them in a hard-fought contest with President Bush in a nation sharply divided along partisan lines?

In a well-orchestrated convention that closed here Thursday night, Kerry made a pointed appeal to middle-of-the-road voters who could turn this election.

But Bush will wage just as pointed an assault on Kerry's credibility and promises an unrelenting campaign questioning his rival's resolve for the war against terrorism and commitment to a sound economy without raising taxes.

Kerry and Bush alike have distilled this campaign to a question of character.<snip>

[Melodybe]

1. Bull his speech last night appealed to ALL voters

there was something for everyone.

Don't let the media try to convince lefties that Kerry is ignoring him.

[struggle4progress]

2. Here's an interesting take on campaign strategies:

How odd to be an undecided: In such a polarized election, clueless factor must be high
Posted on Fri, Jul. 30, 2004
BY JILL PORTER
Knight Ridder Newspapers

<snip>
It boggles my mind that in the midst of the most polarized campaign in memory, with starkly defined issues and candidates who are opposites, some people can't make up their minds.
<snip>

Is "undecided" just a euphemism for disengaged? Are they dolts who simply aren't paying attention? Or are they independent thinkers whose emotions can withstand the fierce pressure of political spin?

The truth is, it's deceptive to say they're undecided. Most are indeed dolts who aren't paying attention; most of them won't even vote. Nearly 80 percent of the so-called swing voters aren't paying much attention to the campaign, according to a Pew Research Poll released last month. The rest of them - the real undecided voters - don't strongly identify with either party or its ideology enough to be polarized into one camp or the other.
<snip>

http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/news/editorial/9281300.htm


According to this view, Bush and Kerry are now competing for the clueless vote: how can we reach our dear friend Moronicus and his sweet sister Dementia?