Some Thoughts on The Presidential Race by Alan Chartock
John Kerry is now the odds on favorite to win the Democratic Presidential nomination.

Even if Ralph Nader gets into the race, the progressive section of the voting public understands that there is a indeed difference between Democrats and Republicans and will not bolt the party's nominee. Furthermore it appears that Kerry has a very good chance of winning the election. If I was Kerry I would certainly choose Florida's Senator Bob Graham thus helping to insure taking back the one state that clearly led to the selection of George Bush as the President.

It is also clear that the Bush team are ready to pull out all the stops to do battle. They have a real, potentially disastrous, problem with Kerry who is a take no prisoners, ambitious man, who will not pull any punches. He is going for the gold and they will be going or their neck.

All of a sudden the controversial Matt Drudge is putting out stories about sexual relations between Kerry and a young woman. These stories have been denied by Kerry. The Democratic candidate can expect a lot more of that type of behavior that will be pushed aggressively by the closely held US press that has given George Bush a pretty free ride thus far. For example, the press has already been shown to use a doctored picture of Kerry next to Jane Fonda from the Vietnam era. At the same time George Bush has been excused from all previous not so sweet activities because of his finding of God rather late in life. This has excused him from previously reported misbehaver.

A lot will depend on Kerry's ability to raise money. With the amount of antipathy among so many Democratic and independent voters, people will be willing to fork over dollars as never before. This should worry George Bush and Karl Rove.

That's where I see it today. See you on the page as things get hotter.
- posted by Alan @ 2/15/2004 03:42:00 PM