[Redcoat LI]

"Other factors........were Mr. Bush's gamble to run on terrorism and his repeated use of a clear, concise message"

Only the Times would consider a clear concise message to be a gamble.

Always better to go with a murky overly verbose message.

[madison46]

Really...'gamble on a clear and consise message'...oh well, the NYTimes is the democrat rag. They suffer from the same mindset so we shouldn't expect more from them.

[neverdem]

"Other factors........were Mr. Bush's gamble to run on terrorism and his repeated use of a clear, concise message"

"Only the Times would consider a clear concise message to be a gamble."

If I had to rewrite it to what I think they meant, it would be something like as follows.

President Bush gambled to run on terrorism. He also repeatedly used a clear, concise message.

so much for the "paper of record"