NYT(A1): Bush '04 Readying for One Democrat, Not 10

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/29/politics/29CAMP.html?hp

President Bush's political advisers have set in motion an aggressive re-election machine, building a national network of get-out-the-vote workers and amassing a pile of cash for a blanket advertising campaign expected to begin around the time Democrats settle on their candidate early next year, party officials said.

Mr. Bush's senior advisers, in interviews last week, repeatedly described the Democratic field as unusually weak and divided, providing an important if temporary cushion for Mr. Bush.

Still, they said the recent sharp drop in the president's approval ratings, the continued loss of jobs in the economy and the problems plaguing the American occupation of Iraq only made the political outlook more uncertain in an election that they have long thought could be as tightly contested as the one in 2000.

"We expect it to be a hard-fought, close election in a country narrowly divided," said Karl Rove, Mr. Bush's senior adviser. "When a Democratic nominee is finally selected, our expectation is that it could be a close and hard-fought race."

[diplomats]

1. I think our field is fine

the only person who isn't running who would be considered strong is Gore, but I think we have several top-tier candidates already (I'm not counting Hillary because she promised not to run.)

[Trek234]

5. Oh please

These 10 candidates aren't exactly the best in the nation, and considering the opponent I'd say a good 5% of the population at the smallest would easily be able to defeat Bush.

[bpilgrim]

2. thats why it is better for EVERYONE to stay in till the last minute

they can't start the presses till they know for sure who the winner will be, gives us more time to FRAME THE DEBATE :evilgrin:

peace

[NashVegas]

3. But They Won't Be Able to

Because of the way the primaries go. It'll be over by April 15, more or less. But I do wish they could all hang in .. the more these guys get public air time in debates, the more the message gets out unfiltered by pundits.

[Julien Sorel]

4. If our field is weak, their field is on life support.

And we're going to pull the plug.

[bluestateguy]

6. Likewise: When a nominee is selected the criticism stops

I would remind the bashers at DU that once a nominee is selected DU rules dictate that all criticism of the nominee WILL CEASE!

[tsipple]

7. I Will Put in a Plug for...

My #1 man Howard Dean, who is the best funded and who clearly knows how to get his message across and get attention. That's a unique combination in the Democratic field. Anyone else is going to get crushed in the wall of advertising Bush can put up.

In my humble opinion.