Did BOB SHRUM Lose This Campaign?!

[liberalpragmatist]

Bob Shrum has done a lot of good, especially in state races, but my own impression is that he does not know how to run a presidential campaign. I don't think it's all coincidence that he's 0 for 8 in presidential races.

And the more I read about the internal dynamics of the Kerry campaign (taking it with a grain of salt - it could all be b.s.), the stories, if true, seem to point to Shrum having somewhat hampered the campaign. Not only did he urge Kerry not to respond to the Swift Boat allegations, he apparently was constantly urging a populist message over talking about national security. He was in effect, for ceding that to Bush. It was Shrum's idea to have a convention that didn't criticize Bush (Kerry, at least according to Newsweek, wanted to blast Bush). Shrum seemed to write a lot of speeches that really didn't suit Kerry - and it showed, b/c Kerry's delivery was often flat if he didn't like the speech he was giving. Moreover, IF Newsweek is correct, Shrum apparently fired the brilliant young speechwriter who came up the "Bring it On"-theme Kerry used so well in the primaries.

If these allegations are true, I think it's a good thing that Shrum is probably finished in presidential campaigns.

Any thoughts?

[liberalpragmatist]

1. kicking this

:kick:

[Snellius]

2. No, the guy who picked someone like Shrum lost it.

.

[Julien Sorel]

8. Since all the primary candidates wanted Shrum...

[JPJones]

3. Kerry jumped the shark when he refused

to get out in front of the SBV story.

[liberalpragmatist]

4. Kerry wanted to respond

Apparently, he was privately fuming and demanded to strike down the allegations immediately.

Apparently he confronted Bob Dole as well, fuming at him on the telephone, telling him "Bob, I bled from every one of those wounds!" Edwards, too, was incensed.

If these stories are true, they point to the fact that Kerry's instincts were correct, but Shrum restrained them. Shrum was adament that they not respond to the allegations.

[Cattledog]

5. This is all covered in the Newsweek issue

Shrum made alot of bad moves.

[Obviousman]

6. shrum gave terrible advice

i think there is strong ase to be made that shrum lost the election. the only question i have is why didnt kerry have the balls to override his campaign manager when it came the swiftvets? especially given his 0 for 8 track record

[Shopaholic]

7. I just hope to God that no other Democratic candidate ever uses

Shrum again if they're running for president.