Reply #13: Winning and Losing [View All]

[RB TexLa]

It may or may not be moving to the right or left. I personally am on the right, more center right in the Democratic Party but moderate none the less. I didn't vote for Kerry in the primary but had no problem voting for and supporting him for president. However I voted more against Bush than for Kerry and there lies the problem. I am sure that I am not alone in this. Kerry was not an inspiring figure. Presidental elections are won in the middle, every candidate moderates after winning their nomination. The middle is defined differently every election, Reagan Democrats, Soccar Moms, Security Moms, whatever you want to call them. It's the middle and upper middle class in the suburbs.

They are both Democrats and Republicans, tend to be educated and usually pretty moderate, they are fiscally to the right of center and socially to the left of center. These are the people that Clinton and Reagan won their two terms on. Clinton kept the "we vs. them" campaign theme but he was able to connect with and convince the middle that the we line is above them, which it is.

I believe that we will do much better with a more moderate nomine in 2008. However, an inspiring liberal can win. But they do have to be someone that is just that. The likablity factor comes into play, this was an early signal, Bush came across as a likable guy to the middle in the American public and Kerry not as likable. I heard so many Democratic leaders playing this off saying we are not electing a friend. Well that is not all that true in the mind of many voters. Liking and not liking someone goes along way in the mind of thousands and thousands of non-political voters. We have to remember most are not politically active, that to many people the D or R on their voter card doesn't carry much passion with it.

Bottom line is, I personally think we are better off with a "Clinton" Democrat running, and probably best with that candidate being a southerner. But a liberal that can inspire the public can still win.