Can Bush stop Kerry's momentum?

[OneOfTheseDays]

It would appear, based upon the latest polls, that Kerry has been enjoying a nice upward swing since the first debate. As I see it, the momentum is now with Kerry, and the third debate should help him further barring any major screwups.

What can Bush do at this point to stop Kerry?

I can tell you what I believe won't work:

1. Any attacks related to his Vietnam service or postwar service. This issue has already been maximized and the American people don't want to hear any more about it.
2. Kerry is a flip-flopper; once again this term has worn out its welcome as America is beginning to see that both candidates are guilty of serious flip-flopping.
3. Increased negative attacks. I've noticed that Bush's attacks have been much sharper and far more critical, and in the second debate he looked angry and his rhetoric was almost hateful. I'm not so sure this will play well with those swing voters.

 

[Pliablemoose]

I wouldn't count out Karl Rove just yet...

 

[XZeroII]

Originally posted by: Sudheer Anne
It would appear, based upon the latest polls, that Kerry has been enjoying a nice upward swing since the first debate. As I see it, the momentum is now with Kerry, and the third debate should help him further barring any major screwups.

What can Bush do at this point to stop Kerry?

I can tell you what I believe won't work:

1. Any attacks related to his Vietnam service or postwar service. This issue has already been maximized and the American people don't want to hear any more about it.
2. Kerry is a flip-flopper; once again this term has worn out its welcome as America is beginning to see that both candidates are guilty of serious flip-flopping.
3. Increased negative attacks. I've noticed that Bush's attacks have been much sharper and far more critical, and in the second debate he looked angry and his rhetoric was almost hateful. I'm not so sure this will play well with those swing voters.

On point #3, Kerry was much more critical of Bush in the second debate. Almost every question, he attacked Bush in some way.

 

[Maximilian Kolbe]

Bush has faith, I'll give you that, but he has no honor, no integrity, no decency, certainly no character, definitely no class, very little dignity left after the two debates, and zero leadership ability, except among the kind of people who like that sort of thing.

Instead, he's a fool who's proud of his ignorance, he's a spineless whining wimp who has an excuse for everything and takes responibility for nothing.

 

[her209]

Originally posted by: Sudheer Anne
1. Any attacks related to his Vietnam service or postwar service. This issue has already been maximized and the American people don't want to hear any more about it.
2. Kerry is a flip-flopper; once again this term has worn out its welcome as America is beginning to see that both candidates are guilty of serious flip-flopping.
3. Increased negative attacks. I've noticed that Bush's attacks have been much sharper and far more critical, and in the second debate he looked angry and his rhetoric was almost hateful. I'm not so sure this will play well with those swing voters.

Don't forget that Republicans are critical of Democrats' VP candidate Edwards as a trial lawyer but whine and complain when Democrats bring up Cheney as CEO of Halliburton.

 

[Gravity]

Kerry's momentum is exagerated. It might be a close race but it's not gonna be that close. I think that Rove will suggest another solid performance for the potus, nothing stellar, just speaking without mangling. That should do it.

If bush ties the next debate, Kerry loses. Kerry must apply the right amount of pressure to see if bush will crack (possibility high) or lose his composure. That means he has to take a slightly antaganistic approach.

 

[conjur]

Originally posted by: XZeroII

Originally posted by: Sudheer Anne
It would appear, based upon the latest polls, that Kerry has been enjoying a nice upward swing since the first debate. As I see it, the momentum is now with Kerry, and the third debate should help him further barring any major screwups.

What can Bush do at this point to stop Kerry?

I can tell you what I believe won't work:

1. Any attacks related to his Vietnam service or postwar service. This issue has already been maximized and the American people don't want to hear any more about it.
2. Kerry is a flip-flopper; once again this term has worn out its welcome as America is beginning to see that both candidates are guilty of serious flip-flopping.
3. Increased negative attacks. I've noticed that Bush's attacks have been much sharper and far more critical, and in the second debate he looked angry and his rhetoric was almost hateful. I'm not so sure this will play well with those swing voters.

On point #3, Kerry was much more critical of Bush in the second debate. Almost every question, he attacked Bush in some way.

I enjoyed Kerry's prosecutor tactic in that debate. Many times he would look directly at Bush when launching his attack. Got Bush to even laugh and smirk when he said no WMDs have been found.

Guess Bush thinks it's funny even though he expressed disappointment that none were found. Guess he really wanted there to be some so the lax security would let them fall into enemy hands for use against us.

 

[sandorski]

"Nuisance", the latest bush campaign angle. The difference between Kerry's "nuisance" and Bush's "you can't win" seems rather miniscule, but not according to Bush. Go figure.

 

[morkinva]

it's time to implement plan B: project diebold

 

[CubicZirconia]

Guess Bush thinks it's funny even though he expressed disappointment that none were found.

This is slightly off topic, but was anyone else somewhat surprised when Bush said he wasn't happy that WMD's weren't found in Iraq? Isn't it a good thing that Iraq didn't have WMD's? I can see where Bush is coming from, but it seems like the Kerry camp could use Bush's statement against him.