This move is interesting in that Kerry, Kuchinich, and Gephardt are clearly sacrificing their electability in '04 on the altar of short-term left-driven primary advantage.
It's always been known that Democrats run to the Left in primaries and then back to the Center in the general election, but this sort of anti-gun-rights move would be quite an avil to haul around in the general election next year.
It makes pro-gun Dean's chances look far better than their own, in contrast. That's quite a risk to take for Kerry and Gephardt.
Sheesh, next someone's going to tell me that Dean's potential VP candidate pick is going to Afghanistan for a photo op with our troops over the Thanksgiving holidays...
It's one of the reasons I took Dean seriously and don't pass him off as McGovern/Mondale(that's Kucinich).
Dean's moved left on guns too, but he's still trying to 'look reasonable' by not taking the "Kerry route" on it.
IMO, it's really dumb for Gep(Yapping on it) especially since he could pull it off with Midwest inroads(If you consider Missouri Midwest), and is the best bet to win Michigan, Ohio, West VA, and maybe Penn(Pitt and Scranton areas). Gep should have done a "Granholm" on the matter(Granholm said she was wrong on CCW and ran away from guns, so much so she picked a pro-2a LT Governor). Now I don't believe for a second that Granholm is pro-2a, but that was a good tactic. On the gun lawsuits bill, Gep showed what a weasel he is by voting for all the bad amendment, and skipping the final vote.
As for Dennis, he's just being consistant on this issue.
John Dukakis Kerry's base is supposed to be the same as Deans, and Dean's taking out what would be his best backers, outside of the gun crowd.
If I was a dem, my election strategy would be simple.
1. Jobs, jobs, jobs, NAFTA/GATT.
2. Race bait
3. Demonize opponent.
4. Pro-2nd Amendment.
5. Pro-abort
The abortion issue is the only one of those 4 that is at odds with most of the Midwest and border swing states, but a pro-life dem can't win nationwide because the base will stay home. It's the same reason pro-abort GOP'ers lose often outside the Northeast.