John Kerry should go into the South.

[alcuno]

I know that time is precious, but I've long thought that Kerry needs to go into the South and at least put in an appearance. It's one thing to talk about one America yet it rings hollow when you spend all your time in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Florida.

I think that doing a little campaigning in the South would show strength and a willingness to actually try and unite the country. By never going to Mississippi or Alabama, it makes him look afraid of them.

[JI7]

1. he does campaign in the south in places like Virignia, tennessee

north carolina, louisiana, west virginia, arkansas.

he doesn't campaign in places he has no chance of winning like mississippi alabama, or non southern states like wyoming. just as bush doesn't campaign in places like new jersey and connecticut . it has nothing to do with being scared it's a strategy.

why not accuse bush of being scared for not campaigning in solid blue states ?

[sangh0]

5. Kerry shuold give a speech

Kerry should set up a web site

Yeeesh!

[alcuno]

10. There's a mindset about the South that doesn't exist with the North.

or the West, for that matter.

[madmax]

2. Time permitting he should hit Arkansas with Wes. n/t

[The Traveler]

3. I see a lot of Kerry stickers around Atlanta

A lot of Bush stickers, too. If he came here, he might be surprised by the welcome. He can even say, "Hey, I don't expect Georgia to go for John Kerry, but when I'm President, John Kerry will go for Georgia and the South, too."

[alcuno]

8. That's what I'm talking about.

He doesn't have to run ads there, but at least go there and say to the people that he intends to be the President of the UNITED States. I could be wrong, but if I lived in the South, I'd think that Democrats were afraid of that region of the country.

[zulchzulu]

4. It's called fighting in the battleground states

Yeah, Kerry should do a photoshoot rock-climbing venture in Alaska, but he's 15% points behind there.

He has to seal some battlegound states FIRST before going to Georgia. Maybe Zell can hook him up...

[Norquist Nemesis]

7. LOL @ Zell hooking him up

What about Jimmy Carter hooking him up? Maybe JK could spend an hour with one of the Habitat groups. Great photo op too!

[zulchzulu]

13. Naw, Habitat Fer Hoomanatee is fer commie darkie lovers

Kidding...but I'm not sure how much political leverage Carter has these days in the South.

Johnny Kerry needs to play geeetar with one of them countree wessern starz...who though? Whoever Kerry picks would have death threats for the next 10 years...

Too bad Little Feat isn't any good anymore.

[Yupster]

14. Reminds me of Nixon

Nixon spent the last week of his campaign with Kennedy in Alaska because he promised to visit each of the 50 states.

Then he lost by two states.

Some one said it earlier. Time is precious. Each day, each event must count.

[alcuno]

16. How about one day?

Can't he spend just one day in a couple of those southern states? A week in Alaska?

[Yupster]

18. Didn't write that right

It was a visit during the last week. I didn't mean he took the whole week.

[GainesT1958]

6. I agree, of course...

He needs to look--constantly--like he's taking the fight to Dub, even in states it would seem hopeless to carry.

His rhetoric last night was a great start...now he needs to go into those states to fire up the troops...certainly not every Dem. pol in those places will run from him...and more than one might think will probably glad he showed up!:D

My state--North Carolina--is of course considered a "battleground" by Kerry's people, in large measure due to John Edwards. Several other Southern states--other than Florida--also fit this designation, including Tennesse, Arkansas, Louisiana, West Virginia and, surprisingly enough, Virginia. But He needs to make stops in at least SOME of those thought safely in Dub's column--yes, even Texas!:7

:kick:

B-)

[codegreen]

9. Texas. hit them in Texas. hit them on pollution, corruption, healthcare

and do it in Texas. a few speeches focusing on what Bush and the GOP have done to Texas, along with what they are doing to America, could go a long way.

i think the DNC and Kerry should treat Texas like they've been treating states like Pennsylvania or even Ohio.

[alcuno]

11. Maybe not the same way.

At least a trip to Texas would be enough.

[quaoar]

12. Does anyone remember

when Dean first leaped to prominence and got a wad of cash how one of the first places he went on the air was in Texas?

That's why I liked him so much. He took the fight to Bush.

I'm in Alabama. Edwards came here once about a month ago to raise money. No rally. Clinton came here, I think, once in his entire time in office.

[alcuno]

15. It was something about a sleepless summer tour.

Because * was on vacation AGAIN in August.

[Zen Democrat]

17. He'll send Edwards. Edwards has rock-star appeal ... and an accent.

[CalebHayes]

19. Dude, I'm afraid of Mississippi and Alabama.

My little Yankee butt with probably be roasted over a fire and eaten by crazy red-necks that like to shoot things with guns.

[AuntPatsy]

21. We got lost in Miss once all the fault of myself because I took

a wrong turn off the main interstate, omg, by the time my sister and her husband woke up, there was nothing but huge pine trees surrounding us, blackness and a lone small country road...

OMG, never will forget it, they woke up, said "Where the hell are we", I said, I dont know?...

Ummm I had to keep driving, couldnt even turn around, we happened upon a small town with one small restaurant open with lights on, and the pickup trucks parked outside...

We needed to stop to find out where we were, talk about terrifying, and Im from Texas and my brother in law has the real swagger, you know the one where it looks like you been on a horse your whole life...

Didn't help none, this backwards little town was not exactly impressed with us Texans...

Talk about hearing the banjos playing...

[TheRovingGourmet]

20. Edwards alone should go. If Kerry wants to lose votes, he should

campaign here.

[rullery]

22. Yes, Kerry should campaign in the south, where it can help.

Tennessee is close and so is Florida. Let Kerry speak in Memphis and Knoxville, in Panama City and Tallahassee. These are places that are Bush country, yet in states that can be won. Kerry could wake up some folks in such cities and gain votes there that could win him these states.

Edwards of course with his southern charm is the main speaker in these places, but it would be wise for Kerry to show up there to, to show that even a liberal from Massachusetts cares about ALL the people of America!

[kwolf68]

23. Those places are the only places Bush goes as well

Bush is hitting the battle-ground states as well. No reason for Kerry to go to places like Mississippi. And he (or Edwards) has been in North Carolina and Tennessee...