Posted on 07/31/2004 2:09:23 PM PDT by LibWhacker
GREENSBURG, Pa. (Reuters) - Democratic White House challenger John Kerry mocked President Bush's new "turning the corner" campaign slogan on Saturday and said he offered voters more than "little itsy bitsy" sound bites.
On the second day of a 22-state, 43-city tour that will take him and running mate John Edwards from coast to coast by bus, train and boat over the next two weeks, Kerry disputed Bush's contention that "we are turning the corner and we're not turning back" on the U.S. economy.
"I think the American people are a heck of a lot smarter than some of these politicians and political consultants think they are," Kerry told more than 8,000 people gathered in a light drizzle outside a railway station in Greensburg, a Republican stronghold in western Pennsylvania.
"They keep telling them, 'just talk in this tiny, little, itsy bitsy sound bite. Be negative, go out there and attack."
Kerry said Americans wanted real leadership and vowed -- if he defeated Bush in the Nov. 2 election -- to be a president in the mold of Franklin Roosevelt, John Kennedy, Harry Truman and Dwight Eisenhower.
"They stood up and told the truth to the American people and they had a plan and they took this country to the future," he said.
Bush and Kerry joined battle on Friday, with the Democrat trying to carry some of the momentum out of his party's convention in Boston and Bush looking to grab back some of the political spotlight with a retooled stump speech after a week at his Texas ranch.
LARGE CROWDS FOR KERRY
Both candidates campaigned in key battleground states, sometimes less than a hundred miles from each other. In Pennsylvania, Kerry drew large crowds, including what he said were up to 20,000 people in Harrisburg.
"Yesterday, the president said to Americans that we were turning the corner, referring to the economy," Kerry said in Greensburg. "Well, let me ask you, if you're one of those 44 million Americans that don't have health insurance are you turning the corner? If you're one of those people who has a job ... that's been forced overseas, are we turning the corner for those folks?"
Despite slower-than-expected economic growth and a record budget deficit, Bush insisted that the nation's economic prospects were improving as he campaigned in neighboring Ohio, another battleground state hit hard by job losses.
But Kerry drew a parallel between Bush and Herbert Hoover, who as president during the Great Depression presided over an economy that experienced the biggest job losses in U.S. history.
"The last time we had a president who ran on a slogan of turning the corner was Herbert Hoover, and he ran on the prospect that prosperity was just around the corner," Kerry said. "I don't want to run talking about turning the corner. I'm running to climb the mountain and get to the top."
Bush campaign spokesman Steve Schmidt accused Kerry of pessimism and talking down the U.S. economy which he said had created 1.5 million new jobs since August.
"He's trying to tell America that things aren't improving," Schmidt said. "But his disingenuous campaign cannot hide the fact that America is stronger and safer because of the president's leadership."
A Newsweek poll released on Saturday showed Kerry gained a four-point bounce from last week's Boston convention where he was formally nominated.
In the survey conducted on Thursday and Friday, Kerry received 49 percent to Bush's 42 percent and 3 percent for independent candidate Ralph Nader. In early July, Kerry led Bush 47 percent to 44 percent, with Nader at 3 percent.
Without Nader in the race, Kerry led Bush by 51 percent to 45 percent. The poll of about 1,000 registered voters had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent.
Ok... and droning "BRING IT ON" is the equivalent of a funeral oration by Pericles.
True.
And Kerry and the complicit media have been hiding Kerry from much of the public view.
Now, Kerry can't just sit comfortably and hide behind the complicit media and his talkingpoints-mouthpieces who have been making the rounds at the news-talk programs.
The public won't go for substitutions. And the more Kerry is seen, the less people seem to like him.
Still, most voters are too busy living their lives to think about the election---still 3 months away. After Labor Day and when the Debates begin, the more valid picture of the election numbers will emerge.
Zogby said no jump, Fox said a mere 2.8.
Next thing we'll hear is "Kerry got a 50 point jump!" (Liberals like to tell fibs)
Kerry sucks, Bush rocks!
You forgot ponderous and pretentious.
Kerry's campaign is all Wet.
One of Kerry's problems is that he has a - er, "size" problem. He knows he's nowhere near as masculine as GWB, and he's suddenly decided he's got to make himself look muy macho. Since he ain't, this is an exercise in futility, but aside from that, it is making him look progressively more ridiculous.
Keep it up, JFK! We (Pubbies) love it!
Wow! Nice research job, vigilanteman! Who is this lame reporter who just lied through his/her teeth?
I'd like to see the democrats sink their teeth into each other after they lose the election. That would be be "so kewl"!
Kerry/Backwards wants to bring back the glory days of Jimmy Carter.
Not a joke, if you follow these democrats THEY REALLY WANT TO GO BACK TO JIMMY CARTER DAYZE.
The see Ronald Reagan as the start of their demise. If only they could undo all from that loss, the Democrats will have their Fourth Reich.
A phrase I would expect, coming from a man who enhances the front of his wetsuit for photo ops.
Don't be so sure, I would like to see that, but the Americans I know are buying Kerry's camoflauge!!
LOLOL.....it was Mario Cuomo who just advised Kerry to talk in baby talk to the American people.
Does the veteran Kerry run as a militarist democrat? Is he really willing to use force to FURTHER the interests of the US?
Bullsh*t. I don't even trust this guy to DEFEND the interests of the US.
He dares to put himself in the same class as genuine war Presidents and leaders.........well, except for Kennedy:)
Anyone with a memory can recall how thoroughly jimmeh cahtah was thrashing Ronald Reagan in Big Media's polls of summer '80.And who can forget the flaying-by-poll Walter Mondale conducted against Ronald Reagan through Big Media in summer '84!
Not to mention the coming Dukakis landslide promised by Big Media polls the summer of '88.
I recall Big Media pollsters of '92 debating whether Perot support was coming from Clinton or Bush voters!
Who can forget the tight contests Big Media polls were calling for in what became the '94 Republican sweep?
Big Media pollers predicted a klyntyn landslide in '96!
I remember Big Media polls in '02 elections calling for Republican losses!
And now, Big Media poll pimps say that Kerry is ahead!/neck and neck!/gaining!
Big Media does not poll-they Push Poll.
Draw the opposite conclusion from the Big Media agitprop and you'll always be correct.
Oh, and one more thing- Do not buy their product in any form. You watch/read them- you support them.
What media bias?
BTW, since Reuters is owned by the Saudis, I guess it's been pretty clear for a long time who they want to win this election.
Now who is going to break the news to Michael Moore?
Gonna be a massacre in the democrat party after this November, but the so-called "moderates" won't survive it. We can count on democrats getting nuttier and nuttier -- which is good news for 2008 and beyond.
15 minutes? I'm sure I could make him cry in less than 10 seconds once I got my hands on the rat.
PING! ...tagline spotted!
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