Posted on 09/02/2004 5:17:21 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Republicans staged a more effective convention than Democrats because they portrayed President Bush (news - web sites) as a strong leader and combined that theme with effective attacks on his Democratic rival, experts said on Thursday.
While both the Republicans and Democrats achieved their goals during their respective conventions, the Democrats focused on introducing Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites) to the nation and convincing people he could be commander-in-chief. The Republicans set their sights much higher.
"The Republicans have done a much more proficient job of packaging the whole affair and making sure the message is salable, commercial and riveting," said Michael Wolff, media critic at Vanity Fair magazine.
Wolff said July's Democratic convention in Boston was "more risk-averse, cautious and even conservative."
"It was bobbing and weaving instead of punching," he said.
Media experts said Democrats achieved their aim -- presenting Kerry as competent enough to be commander-in-chief. But they said he dwelt too much on his Vietnam war record.
Democratic Party leaders portrayed an optimistic vision of America and humanized Kerry as a war hero, family man and weighty intellect. They steered clear of a direct assault on Bush's record.
"That was the strategy that they thought was the most effective," said Syracuse University pop culture professor Robert Thompson. "The problem is they went first."
"The Democratic convention credibly introduced Kerry as a candidate," he said. But he added, "It may turn out to have been a mistake not to attack in Boston."
The Democratic convention used speeches from Bush's opponent in 2000, Al Gore (news - web sites), as well as former President Bill Clinton (news - web sites) and Kerry running mate John Edwards (news - web sites) to develop its themes about Kerry.
MULTI-PRONGED APPROACH
The Republicans took a multi-pronged approach.
On Monday, they used moderates such as former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani (news - web sites) and actor-turned-politician Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (news - web sites) of California to tell the nation that the war on terrorism is the most important election issue and to appeal to voters still undecided ahead of November's election.
Giuliani -- like Bush a politician redefined by the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, when almost 3,000 people died -- also reminded Americans of Bush's leadership in the aftermath of that attack.
On the second day, Bush was shown as a humble family man through speeches from his daughters and first lady Laura Bush. Day three featured caustic attacks on Kerry from Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites) and Democratic Sen. Zell Miller (news, bio, voting record). On Thursday, the event culminated with Bush's acceptance speech.
"Conventions are a media challenge which the Democrats did not fail at. But when you ask, 'Who did better at this,' it's the Republicans," Wolff said.
Frank Newport, editor in chief at polling group the Gallup Organization, noted that Kerry failed to secure the typical "bounce," or rise in opinion polls, after his convention.
Indeed, Kerry -- still in a dead heat with Bush in most polls -- fell 1 percentage point in Gallup's poll after Boston. In some polls he rose by about 2 percentage points.
Newport said if Bush achieves a more normal response in opinion polls after his convention, he could enjoy a spike of 5 to 7 points.
Kerry, a Massachusetts senator, suffered from a blistering advertising attack after his convention from the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth group, which questioned his war record. The group has now launched a second wave of ads, using clips of Kerry speaking out against the Vietnam war after his return to paint him as a traitor.
While the issue has not had a major impact on polls, little changed in three months, it has dominated media coverage.
"Kerry's key messaging appears to be spinning out of control in a large measure because of the fallout from the Swift Boat imbroglio," said Paul Payack, president of The Global Language Monitor, adding that the Republican convention has only added to his woes.
Not even Hollywood and all its costumes could help put Humpty Kerry back together again...
Hollywood is one of the problems for the DemocRATS.
What poll was that? A random poll of Hollywood leftists registered to vote?
"Republicans staged a more effective convention than Democrats"
Was there ever any doubt? ;)
Not "staged"!!!
PIck a bunch of people, have them speak from the heart, and manage the timing. Voila! A more effective convention.
The Democrats scripted and choreographed everything... That's "staged!"
bttt
We have two months left and they own the media. Anything could happen.
"We have two months left and they own the media. Anything could happen."
I totally agree. This I thought was specific to the conventions. The liberals have gone into shock mode and there is nothing they won't attempt.
Yeah. Desperation is a bad emotion, but it might serve them better than all that anger they've had going on for months now.
You are exactly right, and millions and millions more $$$ for campaign advertising. It is looking good for us now, but it is not over, and we would do well to remember that. We must work as hard as possible...and the presidency isn't the only important race.
They can't even get their days right - Arnold was day 2 - not day one AP!! (McCain was day one )
and the RNC music was far better than the stuff from the 80s that the Dems played ad nauseum.
"Kerry's key messaging appears to be spinning out of control in a large measure because of the fallout from the Swift Boat imbroglio,"
I am glad I gave them a few bucks.
"Democratic Party leaders portrayed an optimistic vision of America and humanized Kerry as a war hero, family man and weighty intellect. They steered clear of a direct assault on Bush's record."
"...steered clear of a direct assault on Bush's record."
Pleeeeeease! Al Sharpton's rants, Jimma Carter's direct assault On W and of course Mikey Moron sitting beside Jimma during Kerry's speech.
The Dems of course can have their red meat speeches like we had but for Reuters to make such a claim proves that...Reuters is just being Reuters - liberal butt-kissers.
Yeah, well.....speaking the truth has a way of doing that.
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