AP: Democrats Sense Political Advantage In Keeping Swift Boat Issue Alive

[DrFunkenstein]

ANOKA, Minn. - Democrat John Kerry on Thursday lashed out at "the lie that's been put out there" about his Vietnam War service as Republicans and Democrats fiercely debated his military record, sensing a political advantage in keeping the issue alive.

The current stage of the battle may have negated any advantage accrued by either side, Republican pollster Neil Newhouse said.

Newhouse said Bush had the advantage when the debate centered on Kerry's actions in Vietnam because the questions raised doubts about Kerry's credibility. Now that the debate has shifted to questions about campaign tactics and political insiders, Newhouse said, Bush lost his advantage.

"Bush gained early, now it's a wash," he said.

"When Senator McCain comes out and says he's a hero ... how many Republicans are going to reject it?" Benoit said. "I just think Senator McCain has neutralized that issue in large part."

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=694&e=1&u=/ap/kerry_swift_boat_strategy

[snyder]

1. I Predicted This

Very soon, the story in the media will be about how all of this is Kerry's fault for responding to it. The news media wants to allow Bush to stage a hit-and-run attack. By allowing it to fester for three weeks, Kerry's campaign walked right into it. And I see no evidence that they're going to be able to figure out how to respond to the turn in coverage that is already starting.

[lancdem]

2. Huh?

The article has a Repug pollster saying Bush's advantage is now gone. How is that bad for Kerry? Am I missing something?

[snyder]

4. Here's My Logic

Kerry had to fight like hell to regain lost ground. I'm not convinced he's made it all back, either. The polls were better a couple weeks ago than they are now. He has danced to Bush's tune, and the media is about to lower the curtain on Kerry's ability to turn this into a fight over Bush's smear tactics in general.

The result: Bush gets away with a hit-and-run smear campaign. Kerry was caught napping. We can complain all we want to about Bush's bottom feeding tactics, but anyone with half a brain had to know it would happen. Hell, Kerry was put on notice earlier this year that it would happen. Even if it hadn't happened this spring, he still should have expected it given that his Vietnam record has been an issue in his prior Senate races.

I'm not stumping or shilling for Bush here. What they've done is dishonorable. But Kerry and his people were just plain stupid and/or lazy to have let those guys beat them up for, what, three weeks? Come on, how foolish is that?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

6. Sounds like too many unsupported premises to me.

Along with some outright false characterizations (e.g. 'Kerry was caught napping').

Kerry knew all along this attack was coming. It's come in every single campaign he's ever waged -- why would this one be different?

[NewYorkerfromMass]

3. Ha! It "festered" for so long

that it turned into a fetid pile of crap which Kerry has now demolished!!!

[snyder]

5. Kerry Has NOT Demolished It!

He's convinced you and me, but we knew it was a pile o'crap all along. But out there among the voters who pay a whole lot less attention than we do, Bush's people have successful sowed seeds of doubt. It's Kerry's fault for allowing it to happen. This was very unnecessary. It's like sitting in your trailer after the tornado sirens go off thinking, "Oh, those can't be for real."

[Feanorcurufinwe]

7. You argument is not supported by facts. It consists merely of assertions.

[jackstraw45]

8. Good ad...SHOULD be better...here's how:

Start with the question:

"What does George Bush have against veterans?"

Then, detail the many CUTS in benefits this administration has put on the shoulders of veterans, denied healthcare to reservists fighting in Iraq, etc.

Then, a shorter version of smears against prominent veterans like McCain and Kerry. Instead of "Denounce the smear" I'd rather see "Mr. President, please honor America's veterans instead of smearing them."

Would be a much better use of a 60 second ad.