Reply #4: Tonight's Crossfire [View All]

[huckleberry]

TODAY'S GUESTS:
Steve McMahon, Dean Media Advisor
Steve Murphy, Gephardt Campaign Manager

In the Crossfire... has the negative campaigning begun? Howard Dean's new TV ads criticize his opponents for not being serious on prescription drugs and being inconsistent on Iraq. Though names aren't mentioned, it seems clear that his pre-emptive strike is targeted to take on John Kerry and Dick Gephardt, his two biggest rivals in Iowa and New Hampshire.

But the other presidential hopefuls might be launching counter-offensives. Kerry is questioning if Dean has a plan to balance the budget and Gephardt continues to lump Dean's name in the same sentence with the Democrats' quintessential antagonist, Newt Gingrich.

Meanwhile, Wesley Clark is charging that his opponents in Congress have displayed zero leadership in combating the growing deficit. And even though Bill Clinton is calling for an end to the " 'I'm a real Democrat and the other one's not' " rhetoric, Sen. Lieberman is noticing that he hasn't been tagged as Bush-light as much since Wesley Clark got into the race.

- Is it too early to go negative?
- Is Dean just defending himself from rivals' attacks?
- Would a hopeful, optimistic strategy play better?
- And, who will be the first to attack Dean...on TV?

To see how hot this firefight is getting, you have to step into the Crossfire by tuning in this afternoon as representatives of the Dean and Gephardt campaigns face off.

My take - YOU GO, DR. DEAN!!!! YAY!!