Reply #5: Kerry is a centrist, slightly left of center.

[leftofthedial]

He certainly is farther right than many of us here at DU (definitely myself included), Most Americans are to the right of us.

Running for political office is a bit like trying to get position for a rebound in basketball. You have to stake out your space a little beyond where the ball will be so you can "box out" the opposing player.

In this case, the American political center (which is actually quite conservative by world--and DU--standards) is the space where the "ball" will be coming down.

It is political tactics 101.