Bad Timing as Kerry Slips Out of Picture

NYTIMES ^ | 04/01/04 | ADAM NAGOURNEY and JODI WILGOREN

[Pikamax]

POLITICAL MEMO Bad Timing as Kerry Slips Out of Picture By ADAM NAGOURNEY and JODI WILGOREN

ASHINGTON, March 31 — At the very moment that President Bush has begun his general election campaign, Senator John Kerry has largely slipped from sight. And Mr. Bush has made the most of Mr. Kerry's absence.

Mr. Kerry's low profile occurs at what would seem to be a particularly opportune time for the senator. Mr. Bush has been struggling with questions about his record on terrorism, and Mr. Kerry had been riding on a wave of excitement after his capture of the Democratic nomination.

Yet Mr. Kerry was off the campaign trail yet again on Wednesday, this time for shoulder surgery in Boston, an operation expected to sideline him through Sunday. The surgery followed his weeklong disappearance to the slopes of Sun Valley.

Some Democrats said that should Mr. Kerry lose in November, he might well remember this month as the time when he seriously undermined his hopes of defeating Mr. Bush. A few invoked one of Mr. Kerry's least-liked comparisons, noting how another Massachusetts Democrat who ran for president, Michael S. Dukakis, stuck close to home in August 1988, in what turned out to be a foolish strategic move in his campaign against Mr. Bush's father.

"The Bush people have seized the vacuum," said Carter Eskew, a senior adviser to Al Gore in the 2000 presidential campaign.

Referring to the Kerry campaign, Mr. Eskew said, "It's a fair criticism to say they've been a little slow to do the same." Mr. Eskew said the Gore campaign drifted through the spring before finally settling on a theme to use against George Bush.

"For some people, they have a little déjà vu, and they're a little worried that's what's happening again," he said. "There is some familiarity here that hopefully can be avoided, which is that in 2000 we did not have a good spring, and we weren't ready for Bush. We weren't tooled up on our side on our positive and our comparative message. We paid a price for that."

Mr. Kerry's aides said they were not worried, arguing that now is opportune to raise money and devise a strategy, as they struggled with the inevitable growing pains of changing from a primary campaign to a general election campaign. They argued that voters were more likely to focus on the hearings into Mr. Bush's handling of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, and testimony of his former counterterrorism chief, Richard A. Clarke, than on an election in November.

Mr. Kerry's campaign manager, Mary Beth Cahill, said on Wednesday said that her operation was far from idle. She said Mr. Kerry would report this week that he had raised more than $40 million in the first quarter of the year — a figure that would shatter the $14.8 million record set by Howard Dean, who raised that much in three months — more than any other Democratic presidential candidate. Mr. Kerry's aides said the senator was about to embark on an aggressive schedule of speeches and a national wave of television advertisements challenging Mr. Bush on the economy, job creation and health care.

"We learned in the primary that we are going to run a race on our own terms and on our own schedule and carry out the plan that we put together," Ms. Cahill said. "You're watching it executed in front of you. The Bush people have been laying back a year and half and amassing money to launch a campaign. O.K., but the country still thinks we're on the wrong track."

Still, Democrats said they were concerned by polls in recent days showing that voter perceptions of Mr. Kerry had soured somewhat under the press of Mr. Bush's attacks on him and what even Mr. Kerry's advisers acknowledge have been a series of missteps by the candidate this past month.

A USA Today/CNN/Gallup Poll this week found the number of voters who view Mr. Kerry unfavorably had increased to 36 percent from 26 percent over the past five weeks, while the number of votes who called him "too liberal" jumped to 41 percent from 29 percent. A New York Times/CBS News Poll this month found that about 6 out of 10 registered voters believed that Mr. Kerry said what he wanted people to hear, rather than what he believed, suggesting some success by Mr. Bush in portraying Mr. Kerry as a flip-floppers.

Mr. Kerry himself has showed signs of concern about the image that he is a slacker on the trail, fitting in a campaign appearance in Boston on Wednesday morning before heading to the hospital.

Ms. Cahill's remarks underline what has emerged as a stark strategic difference between the Bush and Kerry campaigns.

Mr. Bush, after studying his father's experience in 1988 and the success with which Bill Clinton undermined Bob Dole by attacking him in the spring of 1996, has set out to define Mr. Kerry now, in the hope that perceptions created today will be difficult to change in the fall.

As Mr. Kerry has stayed on the slopes and the sidelines, the president has pressed forward with a meticulously planned and lavishly financed campaign to undercut him with a barrage of speeches and television advertisements intended to portray him as a liberal, unprincipled, big-spending Democrat.

By contrast, even Mr. Kerry's supporters say he has yet to offer a concise case against Mr. Bush or one for his own presidency.

"Here's what concerns me in the long term: I can tell you what George Bush's definition of John Kerry is: He is a flip-flopping liberal who wants to raise your taxes," said a Democratic strategist who did not want to be quoted by name. "But I'm not sure I can tell you what John Kerry's definition of George Bush is.`

By contrast, in a sign that the White House has figured out what to say about Mr. Kerry, the senator was greeted on Tuesday in California by Bush supporters who held up black plastic flip-flops and clapped them together as Mr. Kerry tried to speak.

Aides to Mr. Bush said their efforts had been successful.

"The equilibrium point of the race right now is roughly event," a senior Bush adviser, Matthew Dowd, said. "I thought Senator Kerry would carry his strong showing from the primaries longer. But that has dissipated quickly. His negatives have gone up fairly quickly."

There are abundant signs that Mr. Kerry's campaign remains a work in formation. Mr. Kerry has flown across the country the past few days accompanied by Bob Shrum, a senior adviser and prominent speech writer, constantly updating and tweaking Mr. Kerry's stump speech.

After two weeks in which Mr. Kerry arguably hurt himself with ill-chosen remarks, his campaign has tried to keep him from reporters. In one seven-day stretch, he met with national reporters once, in a session that lasted nine minutes.

Mr. Kerry's aides said they thought that any advantage that Mr. Bush might be gaining with his attacks would be fleeting because the senator was about to embark in a noticeable step-up of his campaign.

"Their negative ads have gotten some traction, but not any lasting traction that is going to impact us in the long run" Mr. Kerry's communications director, Stephanie Cutter, said. "For us, this campaign has just started. "

[Spruce]

We had Clinton. Could this idiot have worse timing?

[spokeshave]

In other good news John F'n Kerry flubbed on the question "what does the X on my cap represent?"

After postulating "Latin 10" and "X-Men" finally arrived at the correct answer: Malcolm-X

[Rokke]

"As Mr. Kerry has stayed on the slopes and the sidelines, the president has pressed forward with a meticulously planned and lavishly financed campaign to undercut him with a barrage of speeches and television advertisements intended to portray him as a liberal, unprincipled, big-spending Democrat. "

But just last week the press (and many Freepers) was reporting the Bush campaign was in disarray.

"the senator was greeted on Tuesday in California by Bush supporters who held up black plastic flip-flops and clapped them together as Mr. Kerry tried to speak. "

Wasn't this suggested by Freepers a couple weeks ago?

[Texasforever]

The NYT is deeply troubled.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

"Their negative ads have gotten some traction, but not any lasting traction that is going to impact us in the long run" Mr. Kerry's communications director, Stephanie Cutter, said. "For us, this campaign has just started. "

Brave words!

[mylife]

Yes the flip flop clapping was a FReeper suggestion!

Spread the word!

[jwalburg]

"The Bush people have seized the vacuum,"

[NYCVirago]

By contrast, in a sign that the White House has figured out what to say about Mr. Kerry, the senator was greeted on Tuesday in California by Bush supporters who held up black plastic flip-flops and clapped them together as Mr. Kerry tried to speak.

Sounds like a few freepers here!

[binger]

Hiding out...

[MNJohnnie]

Of course the News Media hyperventilating about Clarke's slanders to the 9-11 Commission isn't to blame at all now is it?

[Libertina]

Mr. Kerry had been riding on a wave of excitement after his capture of the Democratic nomination
Stop, my sides hurt from laughing!

[KingNo155]

"Mr. Kerry's aides said they were not worried, arguing that now is opportune to raise money and devise a strategy"
Dolts

[bayourod]

Kerry used up his one week vacation time and now his one week sick time. What else does the Federal Election Law allow for presidential candidates? Personal days? Overtime comp days? Sabbatical retreats? Family emergencies? Paternity leave? Timeouts?

[Libertina]

the senator was greeted on Tuesday in California by Bush supporters who held up black plastic flip-flops and clapped them together as Mr. Kerry tried to speak
A bit discourteous but ROTFLOL funny.. Does it appear to anyone that the NYTimess is TELLING Kerry what to do? The devil wants its due, I take it.

[DJtex]

Clarke is keeping Kerry off the news. As much as the media clearly wants to make this a horse-race, they can't turn Kerry into an attractive candidate if he doesn't cooperate. And disappearing from the national scene for three weeks difficult for Kerry to overcome.

[spokeshave]

" "Mr. Kerry's aides said they were not worried, arguing that now is opportune to raise money and devise a strategy"

Just a flesh wound while John F'n Kerry pines for the fijords

[smonk]

so, whatever happened to "BRING IT ON !!!", you
big nancy.

[Trident/Delta]

They argued that voters were more likely to focus on the hearings into Mr. Bush's handling of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, and testimony of his former counterterrorism chief, Richard A. Clarke, than on an election in November.

In Demo-speak...this was a "planned" diversion (that failed).

Semper Glee!

[squidly]

speeches and television advertisements intended to portray him as a liberal, unprincipled, big-spending Democrat.

If the NYT had been more honest, they'd have added that this is an easy case to make, what with it being true and all.

[BigSkyFreeper]

Of course the media isn't going to take responsibility for Kerry seemingly disappearing, because they became focused on Clarke, because the media, like the rest of the Democrats aren't excited about Kerry either.

[proudpapa]

"John Kerry is a flip-flopping liberal who wants to raise your taxes," said a democratic strategist.

With friends like this JOKER doesn't need any enemies.

[rewrite]

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!!!!LOL!!

[Moonmad27]

Good advice, but we don't pay any attention to him already! (Good analogy - he's just as much a fake as that original man behind the curtain was!)

[Lancey Howard]

Mr. Kerry himself has showed signs of concern about the image that he is a slacker on the trail, fitting in a campaign appearance in Boston on Wednesday morning before heading to the hospital.

This sentence is the crown jewel of the whole piece!
ROTFLMBO!!!

[texasflower]

As Mr. Kerry has stayed on the slopes and the sidelines...

All of Kerry's photo ops for the past several weeks have shown him engaged in PLAYTIME.

Motorcycles, bicycles, hockey, skiing, snowboarding, football and I forget what all else.

To me, that stuff could make a great anti-Kerry ad.

All he does is play and complain. It seems like an ad that shows all of his playtime activities compared with GWB's very Presidential activities would further seal Kerry's fate.

[wingster]

"Kerry used up his one week vacation time and now his one week sick time. What else does the Federal Election Law allow for presidential candidates? Personal days? Overtime comp days? Sabbatical retreats? Family emergencies? Paternity leave? Timeouts?"

ROFLMAO!!!

[wingster]

Isn't Kerry entitled to government sponsored maternity leave?

[wingster]

The more I read in that article the more I realize that Kerry is a lazy PoS! Never in sessions to vote. Never worked a day to earn the fortune that's now keeping him! Days off, ski vacations, etc.

What a piece of work!

[pbear8]

Slip slidin' away, slip slidin' away. You know the nearer the destination the more you're slip slidin' away.

[Republic Rocker]

I'm Melting I'm Melting.......

[dawn53]

The reason they're keeping him off the campaign trail is that they are trying to teach him how to keep his mouth shut.

When he comes out and "flubs it" by yet another long, boring, incoherent answer (and his poll numbers drop), they make up another excuse to get him off the campaign trail, ASAP.

Poor Kerry, now he'll have to endure another few days of lessons on how to "stay on" the talking points, and not stray into stupid rambling. (end/sarcasm)

[Let's Roll]

Rush mentioned that Kerry must be getting a botox booster - implying that the minor shoulder procedure was a cover.

Observing the dim nominee apparent (snicker) in the months ahead will be like watching a variation on the "Picture of Dorian Gray".

[Howlin]

LOL!

[Howlin]

Okay...you're enjoying this entirely TOO much!

[Happy2BMe]

"Yet Mr. Kerry was off the campaign trail yet again on Wednesday, this time for shoulder surgery in Boston, an operation expected to sideline him through Sunday. The surgery followed his weeklong disappearance to the slopes of Sun Valley."

Who says God doesn't get involved in politics?

[Howlin]

All he does is play and complain.

I was surprised at how quickly his "friends" all said that the reason he was making so many mistakes was because he's TIRED from the the primary.

I'm like, does he think he gets time off if he's president?

[Texasforever]

Kerry has inherited the impeccable political timing of Al Gore and has improved on it.

[goldstategop]

By contrast, even Mr. Kerry's supporters say he has yet to offer a concise case against Mr. Bush or one for his own presidency.

"Here's what concerns me in the long term: I can tell you what George Bush's definition of John Kerry is: He is a flip-flopping liberal who wants to raise your taxes," said a Democratic strategist who did not want to be quoted by name. "But I'm not sure I can tell you what John Kerry's definition of George Bush is.`

Can we said John F. Seinfeld? Yep. Even the Democrats can't tell you who he is or what he stands for. The guy still has no THEME SONG! I guess they're not screening Ally McBeal over at the Seinfeld campaign quarters. They're a campaign running on *nothing* and this is confirmed by no less a source than the liberal, pro-Seinfeld New York Times! Hey, Seinfeld, bring it on!!!

[goldstategop]

ROFL! President Bush started planning meticulously for his re-election the past three years. When I listen to Stephanie Cutter, all I hear are excuses for the other guy. And when you make excuses for your quarterback and your team, let's face it, Ketchup Boy's not ready to play in the Big Leagues.

[Howlin]

Guess what day the 9-11 Commission report is due out?

[goldstategop]

Excitement? What excitement? Rush received his first pro-Kerry, err pro-Seinfeld liberal caller after months of ABB callers. On Tuesday that was a FIRST. No one likes this guy and I don't see people working their butts off for someone who doesn't inspire them. Say what you like about Seinfeld, but one thing's clear: he ain't a people person.

[Howlin]

When he comes out and "flubs it" by yet another long, boring, incoherent answer

Watching him last night on MTV, he really IS a colossal bore, isn't he?

Every word is so esoterically measured, he makes NO sense at all.

[HHFi]

He was riding a wave of excitement perfectly, until his %&*#! personality got in his way and made him fall!!

[Howlin]

I actually listened and watched one of his speeches this week, waiting to hear what HIS plan/plans were; it never happened.

It's all about what Bush has or has not done.

He will say "We won't leave senior citizens out in the cold with high RX drug bills."

And then it's like *Crickets*

Nada.

[onyx]

Nite Tex.
I've conquered my insomnia tonight.
You're on your own. :)

[Texasforever]

Good night.

[goldstategop]

Seinfeld by definition is the antithesis of an attractive candidate. Not just in the looks department, where he looks like a cadaver ready to fall back into his coffin. He has all the personality of a dead horse. Neither factor is fatal in and of itself but bring them together and you've got all the makings of a guy who know one would consider a viable political candidate. The more you think about it, its amazing the Democrats nominated him and they're stuck with someone who doesn't get people fired up. He'll receive all the votes a Democrat can get and he'll probably receive fewer votes than a more likeable Democratic candidate would have. The Democrats really wanted Howard Dean, but they ditched him cause he would have identified their product (which is unsaleable) all too clearly for the American people. So they found themselves stuck with Seinfeld, the safe candidate.

[230FMJ]

He's not dead, he's just resting. Beautiful plumage, eh?

[goldstategop]

If he were absent like a cadaver, I wonder if the Democrats would still be excited (or is that "concerned") about his lack of a presence on the campaign trail.