I too have been thinking about this. My current thinking is that it is far better to do this now! First of all to do this after the convention will smack of a "late desperate smear job" -- see how that worked against Arnold and Pres. Bush.
Furthermore, to do so then will make it that much harder to get Pres. Bush's positive message out.
Finally, if the dims do switch horses mid stream, the party as a whole will be significantly weakened. Not only will we be able to paint Kerry as a waffling flip flopper. We'll be able to paint the WHOLE DIM PARTY as indecisive flip floppers who cannot pick a viable candidate who can lead in a time of war.
That is the kind of political damage to a party that could be FATAL! Thus, I really am not worried if they decided to pull a switch.
We were all for Kerry before we were against him!
They are all staying up swapping maly stories and in the morning they are all making waffles!
I would like the Belgian waffle with whipped cream and cinnamon apple compote on the side.
I agree. It would be nice that President Bush could run from August on with a positive message with Kerry neutralized.
Finally, if the dims do switch horses mid stream, the party as a whole will be significantly weakened. Not only will we be able to paint Kerry as a waffling flip flopper. We'll be able to paint the WHOLE DIM PARTY as indecisive flip floppers who cannot pick a viable candidate who can lead in a time of war.
Your point is excellent about weakening the WHOLE DIM PARTY. My thoughts have concentrated just on having the biggest impact on a Bush/Kerry race. Given short-term memories of voters, I previously thought it would be best after the convention. I am now convinced now is the best time. The Vets statement gives the Bush campaign an excellent issue to knock Kerry’s poll numbers down.
I sort of look like this as cutting grass. (Let’s see how this metaphor works.) The Bush campaign uses this issue in campaign ads and speeches. (Cutting the grass) Kerry’s poll number drop. [That’s if this issue has traction with voters.] The Bush campaign then stops using the issue. (The grass grows again.) Kerry’s poll numbers increase. The Bush campaign can resurrect the issue again. (Cut the grass.) If this issue really has traction with voters, the Bush campaign could go out everyday and cut the grass. You know what happens if you cut the grass everyday in the heat of summer? The grass dies. What is good about this is the Bush campaign decides when to cut the grass. They can let Kerry survive, let say that his poll numbers (I’m being optimistic now) go down to 39 to 41%. Kerry will make it though the convention with numbers that low, but he won’t make it though the convention if his numbers are in the low 30’s. The Bush campaign can decide to cut the grass every day and have Kerry die at the convention or cut the grass just often enough to insure a Bush victory. The Rats could replace him and perhaps that weakens the whole Rat Party. There is plenty of time to decide what to do with that strategy and prepare for Kerry’s replacement at the convention. Perhaps safer, and again this only works if this issue has traction with voters, is the Bush campaign could decide to start cutting the grass every day after the convention. In the heat of August, the grass dies. When October rolls around, and no one has to cut grass anymore the Bush campaign can go to a positive campaign.