Kerry Still Unknown to Many - L.A. Times [View All]

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The Los Angeles Times April 25, 2004

Kerry Still Unknown to Many
His campaign switches its focus from raising money to conveying a positive image to voters.

NEW YORK — Almost two months after effectively clinching the Democratic presidential nomination, Sen. John F. Kerry still faces a major task — introducing himself and his candidacy to many American voters. Kerry, his advisors and political analysts agree he remains unknown to large portions of the electorate, despite extensive media attention during the primaries and his regular presence on the campaign trail since his last major Democratic rival left the race in early March.

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Kerry's advisors said they chose to focus on replenishing his campaign war chest in the last month to pay for an effective challenge to President Bush. By last week, Kerry had raised about $29 million in 16 cities. With a new round of TV advertising launched Wednesday and his increasingly personal references while campaigning, Kerry was trying to depict himself as a centrist Democrat whose character was fashioned by his wartime experience in Vietnam.

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New polls, meanwhile, have found that about two-thirds of Kerry's supporters back him simply because they do not like Bush; in contrast, most of the president's supporters plan to vote for Bush because they admire him and his policies. Political experts said Kerry could change that dynamic by getting voters to focus on his background and his vision for the country.


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http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-kerry25apr25,1,1702908.story?coll=la-home-politics