So if Dean opponents think Bush will be better at attacking Dean than they

[helleborient]

Isn't it logical they are admitting they are worse at campaigning than Bush, Rove, etc?

Over and over we hear from the camps of Dean's opponents that Dean will be mauled by Bush in the general election. If that is true, why then are they so unsuccessful in their own blistering attacks? Is it because their own campaigns are severely lacking?

Does it make any sense to nominate a candidate who can't take down the person they say will so easily be taken down by Bush?

If they are that poor at campaigning among Democrats, it seems logical they would be even worse than Dean in campaigning among Bush...at the very least, they admit fear in the face of campaigning against Bush.

This is from Kerry via ABC News the Note today:

Regarding Dean's Iraq position, Kerry insisted, "Howard Dean exercised the same judgment as those he criticized … This is duplicitous position that the Bush campaign will exploit to a fare-thee-well."

If this is true, why can't Kerry exploit Dean's position? Because Kerry isn't as strong a campaigner and would be a weaker candidate in the general election?

[KissMyAsscroft]

1. Bush is just sitting back and laughing at the carnage...

I really do hope that after the primaries everyone can pull together to defeat Bush.

[SEAburb]

2. every political pundit will be parroting the Bush talking points

during the GE. Right now it is just the Dem candidates, who aren't getting any media exposure, attacking Dean's positions.

[Hep]

3. Good question

Out of curiosity, how DOES Kerry feel about the Iraq War this week?

[JPJones]

4. Not all out war

The other candidates have their hands tied by 'Party unity' to some extent. Plus, the audience is very different. In the primaries, the message is only for the core of the Democratic party. In the election, the message is for the swing voter. They are very different types of voters.

For example, would Gore have lost the nomination if Bradley had brought up the 'inventing the Internet' comment. Not likely. But it was very effective with swing voters in the GE.

[Turkw]

5. Any/All the candidates can take on Bush, he is an idiot- Rove, the nasty

piece of filth, is a different matter. We will all have to fight him during the general election. Rove hates democracy and will do anything to win.

[stinkeefresh]

7. Praise be this post!

[dfong63]

6. they're implying that they are wearing kid gloves

... during their blistering attacks on Dean.

and they're correct to some extent. however, it's also true that Dean is somewhat constrained in his responses to these attacks. Dean's gloves will come off too in the general election. for every attack against Dean, and i mean 100% of the attacks that come from Bush, i guarantee that Dean will have a stronger counter-attack against Bush. Dean can answer Bush strongly on every issue.

[BobbyJay]

8. Dean will lose the General Election because he wants to raise taxes

on everyone.

bye bye

[RetroLounge]

10. Poop

bye bye

[sandnsea]

9. Bush has $200 million and one opponent

Bush will be targeting 80% of Americans who aren't inclined to believe everything just because the Dr. said it. Those are a few reasons I can think of.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

11. False premise.

[heidler]

12. Kerry is still trying to justify voting for the stupid Iraqi war.

When Saddam was caught Kerry, Geppy and Lieberman thought that some of the heat would come off their support for Bush's stupid war. Dean poured cold water on that by saying it would have no effect on US security, which was true. GO DEAN.

[blm]

13. Nope. They are just better at attacking Republicans than fellow Dems.

Dean is GREAT at attacking Dems because he had 11 years practice aligning with the GOP and against the progressive Dems there.

Gee....so sorry you can't appreciate Dems who know how to run great campaigns against Republicans but not so great at attacking other Democrats.