NYT: Kerry Steers Message to Nation's Center (base more solid than Bush's)

[DeepModem Mom]

POLITICAL MEMO
Kerry Steers Message With Eye to the Nation's Center

By DAVID M. HALBFINGER
Published: August 8, 2004


LAMAR, Colo., Aug. 7 - Cruising across the country on a post-convention tour by road, water and rail, John Kerry has begun reaching out to moderate, undecided voters with a general-election message that suggests he is more confident in his base than President Bush is in his own.

"I want to talk to the people who aren't here," he said in Hannibal, Mo., on Wednesday, a line he is repeating everywhere he goes. "I want to talk to rural, I want to talk to conservative Missouri. I want to talk to Republicans and independents - because I want to talk common-sense, mainstream American values."

Indeed, while Democrats note that Mr. Bush continues to talk about banning gay marriage and late-term abortions, and to visit bedrock Republican areas of the country like Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Mr. Kerry, the Democrat from Massachusetts, is rolling through the Great Plains and the high plateaus of the Southwest preaching fiscal responsibility, tax cuts, gun owners' rights and national security.

In his choice of themes and in his tone, Mr. Kerry is running straight up the middle, as polls show he has solidified his backing among Democrats, with more of his supporters now saying they are voting for him as opposed to voting against Mr. Bush....

(I liked this part. The article states later that Kerry's message is delivered in a "one-word frame: values. Mr. Kerry is thus taking on a phrase that Republicans have used as a cudgel against Democrats for a dozen years." Kerry is quoted: "Values spoken, without actions taken, are slogans, not values....Values are the choices we make, and I think it's time we started to demand of people in public life that you stop talking about family values, and you start valuing families." This reporter gave us a positive article.)


http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/08/politics/campaign/08memo.html

[DeepModem Mom]

1. Sorry -- kicking this out of sheer exuberance after seeing...

a TV report from the campaign train, rolling through the West, passing through Republican Colorado because JK thinks he has a chance there. Kerry and Edwards are looking and sounding so great! This report was followed by a report, and footage, of W and Laura in Kennebunkport, and the contrast was unbelievable. Kerry is such a big, vigorous guy, and, today at least, is wearing a big, broad smile!

Note: This report was on CNN International -- domestic reporting might be conveying none of this.

[Gman]

2. Just more evidence that Rove has written off the undecideds

and even likely much of the moderates in lieu of turning out the nutcase base. It looks like they are betting the farm on turning out the fundies and other nutcases because they likely know its the only chance they have even thought its a long shot.

Rove complained in '00 that there were like 2 milion evangelicals that didn't vote. He felt that if they had voted the election would not have been as close. It appears he's really going after those 2 million this time.