Democrats have little choice but to delay the nomination

[MaineDem]

Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

It's odd, even perverse, that Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry would go to the Democratic National Convention this summer and not accept the nomination for president. Yet, if Kerry hopes to win the White House, he may not have a choice.

Last weekend, Maine Democrats reacted favorably to the idea of Kerry delaying his acceptance of the nomination. He would do this because campaign finance laws would put Kerry at a huge disadvantage if he were to grasp the nomination on time.

...

Delaying acceptance might reflect poorly on Kerry, but it's a risk he likely has to take to remain competitive.

That doesn't mean Americans should feel good about this maneuver. It speaks to the growing role that money is playing in our politics and the failure of the laws regulating campaigns to keep pace with change.

http://www.pressherald.com/viewpoints/editorials/040526kerry.shtml

I have mixed emotions on this. If he does delay he should make it perfectly clear why it's being done.

[OneBlueSky]

1. no matter what he says, they'll pound him for this . . .

"See, Kerry is all about money! That's all Kerry's interested in . . . MONEY! Lord knows he has enough of his own (and his wife's) to finance the whole campaign. Is this who you want as president?"

[rex 555]

2. Oh the pink tutu's whine so much..

It will be fine. Kerry has courage and the smarts to win. Of course he never said he would do that. Its just an option. It makes Rove crazy. And I like it.

[Stuckinthebush]

3. I don't think it is a great idea

But if Kerry did it, it would have little impact on votes. Very few people who are thinking of voting for Kerry or who are on the fence would really care about this anyway.

Perhaps they can just move the convention back a few weeks.

[bemildred]

4. The Conventions are just big frat parties anyway these days. nt

[cybildisobedience]

5. can someone please tell me.....

Why NO ONE is mentioning the fact that this move by Kerry will be in response to BUSH moving the Repuke convention back so that he could be in NY for 9-11 --- that this is in response to BUSH'S shameless exploitation of a national tragedy -- which happened on his watch, by the way?
Why are all the Dems I see blathering and stumbling and tripping over this issue on tv failing to mention the real reason this is all taking place. For YEARS, the two conventions weren't more than a few weeks apart. Then Bush pulls this huckster move, and Kerry's team comes up with a plan, and bingo, it's the Democrats who are money-grubbing whores.
When are they going to learn how to deal with these people?
And they don't even have to lie, or make things up, or sell their souls, or co-opt people in the media -- all they have to do is TELL THE TRUTH!!!!

[wabeewoman]

6. There is an alternative....

Kerry could calculate what he loses by the time difference and ask for people to donate that money now and then have the convention on time. It may work to his favor and get more donations rolling in.