Americans Show They Are Willing For Change, And Kerry Just Stepped Up [View All]

[DrFunkenstein]

Polls are good for showing long term trends, and not necessarily immediate. Just because Kerry is up now, I don't think it means much.

What is more significant is that polls have shown that Bush's support is soft - like Dean's in Iowa - and has consistently been growing softer. They are willing to look elsewhere if there is an appealing alternative.

At this convention, John Kerry stepped up when it counted - like he always does - and has given the American people that alternative. It wasn't a "wow" performance like Obama's, but it showed that he had a real spark and tremendous credibility. In short, he made good on all the expectations Democrats put upon him as someone who could take down Bush.

Kerry is known for conserving his energy during the early part of the race. This makes for a particularly excellent strategy in 2004, when war-weariness could easily transfer into campaign-weariness after a long, dragged out fight. Kerry comes on strong in the final stretch and, while he will certainly go toe-to-toe with Bush in the interim, expect Kerry to save his best stuff for the debates and beyond.

I admit I had a bit of jitters before the convention, just as I had a bit of jitters going into Iowa, but I am now absolutely convinced that Kerry is an utterly capable campaigner who somehow gets the media to underestimate him every time. He played them for suckers during the convention the same way Ali told everyone he was "gonna dance" with Foreman. Don't be surprised if the rope-a-dope comes out yet again before it's all over.