Kerry's "Elvis" problem

[pscot]

I've been leaning Kerry for months, but just can't seem to fall. I like his war record and his Senate record. He's strong on the environment, and despite his vote on Iraq, his liberal bona fides are impeccable. So what's the problem? The problem is that he ain't got no Elvis. Molly Ivins sumarrizes it here.
http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?itemid=15070

Josh Marshall approaches it differently in a column he wrote for The Hill. I don't have a link, but you can find one in his current Talking points blog. Marshall compares Kerry to Al Gore. When he was pushed to the wall Gore was able to slough off his wooden persona and produce a burst of populist fervor that energized his campaign. Unfortunately he lapsed back into being the old Al Gore as soon as the crisis subsided. Marshall suggests Kerry may be exhibiting the same pattern. Crisis generates a spark, but when it passes he becomes the same aloof, ponderous campaigner he was before. He's not a natural campaigner. He doesn't build a fire under people as Clinton did, or even as Dean sometimes does. No Elvis.

So I'm still leaning, hoping to see something to make me a believer, because I'd like to believe. I really want to believe that one of these guys can take down George Bush.

[BeatleBoot]

1. What Do the Polls Say About His "Elvis-ism"?

I hope your post was sarcastic, because, if not, that was probably one of the goofiest things I've seen.

Lean on'! Lean on!

[pscot]

3. My point is

that without the Elvis factor you don't get to sit behind the big desk in the oval office.

[bigtree]

2. Bush 'aint nothin'

but a hound dog.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

4. A few more primary elections will tell.

The 'crisis' is certainly over for Kerry's campaign now. In fact, much as he didn't want it, he's been christened the new frontrunner by practically everyone. So if he takes NH, I think we'll have to admit, he's got Elvis.

[dolstein]

5. Well, that's one way of putting it

Another way of putting it is that John Kerry is a wealthy, Ivy League educated liberal who hasn't had anything in common with working class Americans since he left the jungles of Vietnam. If it weren't for Vietnam, he'd be another Dukakis, only taller.

[RobinA]

6. Well....

I like what the article says, but I'm not sure. When we had Elvis in the White House he was a little TOO Elvis and ended up getting into stupid trouble he should have known better than to get into.

I don't know about Kerry. I don't watch TV, and one of the disadvantages to that I am finding is that you don't know how these guys come across to the average voter. People keep saying Kerry is stiff, etc. I have no idea, frankly, I never saw the guy in motion.