Voters want more specifics from Kerry

[BaysideLiberal]

Updated: 7:59 a.m. ET July 27, 2004

A majority of voters say they know little about John F. Kerry's positions on key issues and want the Democratic presidential candidate to detail specific plans for handling the economy, Iraq and the war on terrorism when he addresses the Democratic National Convention and a nationally televised audience on Thursday, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

The survey suggests that the stakes for Kerry and the Democrats as they began their convention in Boston could not be higher. In barely a month, Kerry has lost ground to President Bush on every top voting issue in this year's election.

<snip>

The poll suggests that negative ads by the Bush-Cheney campaign that have been airing since early March, as well as attacks by Republican officials, have been increasingly successful in planting the image of Kerry as an unreliable leader who flip-flops on the issues -- perceptions that Democrats will work hard to reverse at their convention.

Kerry's advisers down played the results of the Post-ABC poll, asserting that the senator from Massachusetts enters the convention stronger than other recent challengers to incumbent presidents. But they agreed that the four-day gathering in Boston represents a critical opportunity for Kerry to flesh out what is still a partial portrait of his candidacy and said that his chance to communicate directly with voters will pay dividends.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5524805/

comment : i dont think that the "soft soap" approach is going to do it. we need some red meat

[chelsea0011]

1. Kerry could do the laundry list, but it doesn't play with the media

Sound bites are all that matter. That is why they are running his photos of his shuttle suit getup. Even though you have to wear it, they are treating it like some outrageous, silly behavior. They could run the speeches that Kerry gives where he outlines policy but that would take all of 10-15 minutes. The 30 second shot of Kerry in a suit works better. Of course the public is uninformed of Kerry's policies....the media ignores them.

[JI7]

2. right, but wont mention what was said about science

and math which is what kerry was speaking about during the nasa thing. it was one of the specifics of his policies. and i don't think voters care much for details as they claim in the polls. they could easily do some research on their own. in fact i believe those who truly do want to know specifics are those who do the research on their own and if they still don't know they try to contact the campaign in some way to find out or attend an event to try to ask themselves.

but those who are more likely to worry about american idol and get most of their news from jay leno and other late night comedy shows and don't even bother to check out the website aren't ones who really care. it's just something they say yes to if asked because to say no doesn't sound too good especially if they don't already know.

[2Design]

3. yes they (rethugs) want a list of exactly what he would do so they

can tear it up into pieces and say how they will do it better even if they have no follow through

[Frances]

14. The Post is just spinning for Bush

But I think Sharpton was right last night on Larry King Live when he said that the reason Iraq is so important is that voters feel that they can't trust Bush. Carter spoke about how Bush has broken trust as well.

In my opinion, Kerry doesn't need to give specifics; he just needs to convince voters that he is more trustworthy than Bush.

The Dems need to keep repeating the story of how he saved a man's life in Vietnam over and over. That is what the people need to hear because this story shows that Kerry is a man you can trust. (Can you imagine Bush risking his life to save anyone?)

[emulatorloo]

4. Did you see the speeches last nite? Plenty of Red Meat Was Served

Gore Clinton and Carter's speeches savaged the failed policies of GWB.

And then they talked about the Dem/Kerry alternatives.

[JerseygirlCT]

5. The thing is, in the end, perception really matters -- whether correct

or not. Most of what I hear from people who aren't sold on Kerry is this lack of specifics. Now, of course, they could head to his site and get all the specifics they want -- but let's face it, most won't do that.

So perhaps we need to take a page from the other guys and hammer our specifics until they start sinking in. They've been successful in saying things until people start buying them -- even when everything they say is a lie. We need to talk specifics -- what is electing this man going to do for you? (Not just the extreme good of ridding the world of Bush...) With all the party faithful out there, we ought to be able to keep hammering it home.

On the other hand... what do I know?!

[TexasBushwhacker]

9. NEON was created for these people

I totally agree with you. When media was more balanced (oh yeah, the right wing said it was liberal biased) some people got in the habit of getting ALL of their information from network programs and perhaps the occassional newspaper or magazine. Any action to seek and find the information was minimal. When media was more balanced, this still wasn't the best way to get information but it was still a viable option. Now that the mainstream media has swung to the right, either a little or a lot, it isn't a viable option, but the folks that were counting on it for information need NEON for that too.

This TV Nation voter needs a little disclaimer crawling across the TV screen that says, "We're ratings whores. Don't use us as your only source for information on anything important. We don't think you're that smart and we have no intention of trying to make you smarter because we're afraid you'll change the channel to sports or soap operas."

[suegeo]

6. Then I would suggest

I would suggest that people wanting more information do the research on their own, because the US media is worse than useless.

PS Who put up big money when CNN was in trouble? I thought I read it was the Saudis.

[Judi Lynn]

11. I heard that connection mentioned lately, as well. n/t

[soothsayer]

7. relax, this is what the debates are for

Lazy voters like me who (normally, until this election) don't want to waste time on the stupid politics part of the run-up to the election REALLY don't start paying attention until the debates happen.

I like seeing 'em side by side. Otherwise the ads are just blah blah blah.

[The Stranger]

8. The Right Wing Hate Machine has also coopted the press, which has

revived the adjectives once used to describe Gore now to depict Kerry as impersonable, distant, etc. Complete lies.

[Judi Lynn]

10. It's odd, and it's shallow.

They conducted a long-running character assassination on Al Gore, completely reveling in all the worst the Republican strategists could dish out.

They are straining to get back in stride, slashing and hacking away at Kerry, while marvelling at the wondrous pronoucements from _{George Bush} like the original world-famous campaign insight he should "make the pie higher."

A Kansas City right-wing news/talk station just today featured a local host raging over last night's convention with such utter abandon I had to first rip off an e-mail to the station, then turn off their station. He savaged even Jimmy Carter, insisting Carter was evil, said vicious, bitter, rotten things in his speech last night.

This right-wing hate alliance is beyond understanding. What keeps it going? You'd think there would be a few who would become so ashamed they'd drop out and apologize publically to the country.

[belle]

15. There were : David Brock, for one. Not enough, alas, but...

[GoldenOldie]

12. I'm still waiting for Georgie's plans from the 2000 Campaign???

Seems like the George's plan have been well hidden from the voters much like Cheney's Energy Plans, The Iraq War Plans, The No Child Left Behind Plan, The Uniter not Divider Plan, etc., etc., etc.

Seems like Georgie and Thugs plans leave us all in a state of fear of the unknown......and that's they way they like it.

[DemBones DemBones]

13. RNC bullshit. What are the specifics of * plans? What

were the 2000 * specifics? Al Gore gave specifics, * said "I'm a uniter not a divider, and the media whores swooned over * and said Gore was a "policy wonk" but * was a guy you'd like to have a beer with.


:puke:

[belle]

16. Yes. The message the Dems must learn is not to let the R's frame it.

Once you start jumping through their hoops, it really doesn't matter *what* you do.

[Democat]

17. Negative ads are working just like in 2000 - should be be running them?

The Republicans brag about their "war room" while we try to enforce a "be nice" policy.

Hope this isn't a repeat of Gore 2000.

[w4rma]

18. I bet voters want to hear specifics from Bush, too. Yet, the headline is

about a Democrat.