Gore: Kerry can win Tennessee

[Judi Lynn]

Gore: Kerry can win Tennessee
By TOM HUMPHREY
July 27, 2004


Al Gore said Tuesday that President Bush's "saturation television advertising" in East Tennessee indicates Republicans fear that John Kerry can win the state that Gore lost in 2000.

Speaking to Tennessee delegates a day after addressing the Democratic National Convention, Gore contended that GOP fears were justified, even though most polls show Bush with a solid lead in his home state.

"I know what the conventional wisdom is about the outcome of the presidential election this year" in Tennessee, Gore said. "But let me tell you what I feel.

"The Bush-Cheney folks have some reason for spending their money in saturation television advertising, particularly in East Tennessee. And there's a reason why President Bush seems to be commuting back and forth to whistle stops in Tennessee.
(snip/...)

http://www.texaswest.com/sast/news_politics/article/0,1897,SAST_4959_3068410,00.html

[AnnitaR]

1. Zogby has Kerry gaining 2 points here in latest poll.

I have to admit I am in shock.

If things are this close here in heavily Puke TN, Chimpy has major troubles. I consider it a sign of how badly things are going for him right now.

Despite the tripe the cable whores are spewing... Chimpy is in deep shit.

[dbt]

2. Memo to Kerry: Turn CLINTON loose in Tennessee!

Memo to Gore: try not to kick yourself too hard for NOT turning Clinton loose in Tennessee--or anywhere else.

:eyes:
dbt

[DoomFook]

12. Al Messed Up on That One

Yeah, in lamenting the past election, had the Big Dawg spent anytime in Tennessee, Gore would have won. Still don't understand why Gore didn't use Clinton; big mistake.

[smada]

3. not to be a pessimist

but after Gore's miscalculations in 2000 (and there were many), I don't give a lot of weight to his gut instincts. And even though he's having some success at rehabilitating his image now, he still has moments where he makes himself a laughingstock for the far right. However, I'll be the first to admit, I've never cared for Al Gore much.

I'll don my flameproof suit now.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

5. Just curious, but of "Gore's miscalculations in 2000", how many were....

...falsely generated by the captive mainstream press that never gave him a break from Day One of the 2000 election? Would you say 50%? 70%? Maybe as high as 90%?

How many states, other than Florida, had their vote manipulated by the early closing of polls in Democratic precincts, the closing of some polling places without notice, the use of police to block key roads, and vote counts that mysteriously shifted overnight to FratBoy? Let's list a few, shall we? Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia. See any pattern emerging? I do, because I live in Alabama and kept track of the 2000 election day events in all of the surrounding states. Florida got the press because of the high number of electoral college votes involved, and the fact that Jeb Bush was the governor.

Do you also recall the shutting down of the exit polling group during the 2000 election night that the media had used for decades to get a sense of how voting was going? Do you recall that the exit pollers were giving a sense that Al Gore was on his way to victory? I recall it very clearly.

But let's blame Gore because the press says we should, right?

And when the U. S, Supreme Court voted 5-4 to install FratBoy in the White House, how many people blamed Gore for that one, too?

Hard to overcome "miscalculations" when you don't have control of the vote count, the Congress, the Judiciary, and the military, isn't it?

[smada]

10. Gore didn't know who he was

I remember the debates. It was ridiculous. He looked like he had no direction and no conviction. In the first debate, he came off hard charging and in command. He also came off as sanctimonious and condescending, sighing and rolling his eyes. Not a very attractive candidate, and not someone that wins over the grandmas in Nebraska.

He got criticized in the press as being too much of a bully. So in the second debate, he was peaches and cream, going along to get along and barely had a word of disagreement with Bush.

He looked like a man who didn't know who he was, like he was taking cues from a stage director and overnight polls. He blew it. I blame him.

Sad thing is, I've met Al Gore in person. He's a likeable guy. His compassion and desire to help people is genuine. But he's a terrible campaigner and comes across terrible on camera.

[LeinesRed]

18. wow, looks like you fell into the media trap yourself

Do you really think that Shrub looked anything but a complete dolt at the first debate?

[LeinesRed]

19. and that Gore really looked arrogant?

Shrub's expectations were so low that the fact that he put a sentence together brought cheers from the media. And who can forget Shrub's weird snort?

[wabeewoman]

21. Gore really turned people

off with his condensending attitude during the debate. His heavy sighs were really annoying and I know several people who were on the fence who voted against him for that. I KNOW!! What a stupid reason but trying to revise how it was doesn't help. I love Al Gore and I would think it was just fine that people who were so superficial to vote for bush (and make the election close enough to steal) got what they deserve except for the fact that the rest of us have to suffer with them.

[The_Counsel]

24. You're Being A Little Unfair To Gore, Don't You Think...?

"I remember the debates. It was ridiculous. He looked like he had no direction and no conviction. In the first debate, he came off hard charging and in command. He also came off as sanctimonious and condescending, sighing and rolling his eyes. Not a very attractive candidate, and not someone that wins over the grandmas in Nebraska."

Funny: it seems many "grandmas" (the ones who watched, anyway) figured Gore the winner of the first debate -- until talking heads like Frank Luntz insisted otherwise. BTW, it was good to see that bastard was at it again last night -- insisting that Teresa Heinz Kerry couldn't possibly go over well in Peoria... :eyes:


"He got criticized in the press as being too much of a bully. So in the second debate, he was peaches and cream, going along to get along and barely had a word of disagreement with Bush."

This was probably the only (or at least the most significant) mistake Gore made in the debates. Gore should have continued to be himself, no matter what anyone else said. The GOP spinners were going to try to make him look bad regardless. The pundits, unfortunately, were all to happy to pitch in there. And the "Saturday Night Live" skit? That was ALL IN GOOD FUN! It was never meant to suggest that Gore change his demeanor.

But change he did. It cost him dearly.


"He looked like a man who didn't know who he was, like he was taking cues from a stage director and overnight polls. He blew it. I blame him."

He looked like a man who paid too much attention to his campaing management team and not enough to his instincts. You're right to blame him for that, but he doesn't get ALL the blame...

In an interesting side note: Gore publicly denounced his decision to listen to his handlers two years ago, and as a result we see a more dynamic and exciting Al Gore. Funny how GOP-ers and pundits are now trying to make him out to be "nutty" and "out-of-the-mainstream," eh? Damned if he does; damned if he doesn't... :eyes:


"Sad thing is, I've met Al Gore in person. He's a likeable guy. His compassion and desire to help people is genuine. But he's a terrible campaigner and comes across terrible on camera."

You'd be surprised at just how many politicians and would-be politicians are exactly like that. It's exactly why we have to get away from the "popularity contest" mentality in elections. We could be depriving ourselves of some pretty amazing leaders...

...the alternative being the current White House disaster. :cry:

[tooie]

6. unfortunately for Gore

winning your home state is a given, and he did not deliver. simple as that.

[The_Counsel]

25. Actually, Winning Your Home State Is NOT A Given...

...if it was, Gore would have won it.

No, if your home state is going to be close, and your opponent is spending oodles of time and money there...

...and you DON'T show your face thare until the last few hours before the polls open...

...then your ass should EXPECT to lose -- whether you're loved in said state or not. Team Bush knew it. Team Gore ignored it.

It cost us dearly.

[dusty64]

4. He could if the

votes are counted fairly and rethug voter intimidation is countered. I've heard a lot lately from Democratic leaders about fighting election fraud and hope it is backed by a plan of action.

[Claire Beth]

7. I'm in Tennessee and that is correct....

I work part-time and live in a conservative area of Davidson county where I hear quite often from people who voted for Bush in 2000 but are VERY disappointed with him. I have been saying for MONTHS now that Tennessee is going to be a swing state in THIS election. In the latest Zogby poll Tennessee is showing Kerry having a 2 percent lead over Bush. http://www.electoral-vote.com/

:kick:

[cid]

8. I live in rural TN, (real rural lol) and the attitude out here has

totally changed from Bush is God to Vote Bush Out. I read yesterday that TN has lost 67,000 manufacturing jobs since Bush took office..and that TN has a higher rate than any other state of job losses. Ppl blame Bush for this. They also dont like the war. Too mny families out here have family or friends in the military and they are NOT happy about being lied to. I think there is a good chance of Kerry taking this state. I havent had a nasty comment about my anti-Bush tshirts in months. In fact, ppl ask me where they can get them :)

[Claire Beth]

9. I am always happy to hear....

from other Tennesseans who are hearing the same comments about Bush that I am hearing. GO KERRY!!! Kerry CAN and WILL win Tennessee!!!!

:kick:

[cthrumatrix]

14. foget bush speak...his actions are louder than his BS.... people

can see thru this liar.

[John_H]

11. Gillispie : Edwards is can't help Kerry win a single southern state

Reality: lets send the president there and spend tens of millions because Edwards can help Kerry win southern states.

[PATRICK]

13. Gore and Gore's assessment

Gore's assessment is in fact a late understatement. I could feel the logic and intuition of this landslide(barring unforeseen occurrences) long before this. namely, what inroads has Bush really made to expanding his losing totals against a better candidate with less target baggage when he has alienated a chunk of republicans and certainly the chagrined swing voters who lazily put him in? Whatever else opinion polls tout, that dark logic is pretty much confirmed unless a LOT of new and misinformed voters appear out of nowheres.

Nor has the Democratic party done itself any damage to lower its winning numbers. In fact, it behooves both parties to play down the immensity of the situation as it really stands.

Now to Gore, who like most pols, never really reinvented himself or his skills all that much from losing efforts before being named Veep by Clinton. A good prizefighter showing up with gloves at an alley knife fight. Or a competent, even visionary good leader with second rate political skills in a poisoned national forum. You can argue about the man all you want, but Kerry won't find the media territory all that fair or easy either. Incumbents get a sort of champion edge( a sort of cringing deference) when the results are a done deal- like Dole versus Clinton. Everyone though expects the little Nero to maybe pull some evil scheme out of his hat and beat up on any miserable staff under any media mogul needing favors. They are in a pathetic state, but by keeping the lid on until Kerry takes the simple measures to prove himself(his speech and his debate) Bush's sudden snap into doom will make Goldwater's rude awakening after his 1964 Convention speech seem like a pleasant dream. But that more genuine candidate played out his role nobly and without giving up. Bush and Cheney will be far uglier as will some of their operatives. But many of their ops and the "little bit of this and that" in the hustings will have the guts torn out. They will also be afraid of the law and exposure for once- I hope. And the big money may in actuality be already beginning to deal themselves to Kerry.

They won't, can't say things like "it's Kerry's to lose" like they stupidly and arrogantly only graced Perot with while Clinton got the voters.

No, hard work in every state is required for the real challenge- coattails in the midst of GOP gerrymandering, fixing and structuring.
That is the biggest real problem, but no one is going to be impolitely arrogant at this early stage to change the overt focus.

Work to make Kerry and the local Dems take your own neighborhood. Tennessee will take care of its own.

[Frances]

15. I agree with your analysis, especially about Gore when you say

"Or a competent, even visionary good leader with second rate political skills in a poisoned national forum."

Gore is a good man and would have made a good president, but thus far the people I've seen at the convention with first rate political skills are Hillary and Bill Clinton, Obama, and the 12-year-old girl who thinks Cheney should have a time-out.

I have not seen Kerry give a first rate speech, but I think his other political skills are first rate.

And I hope and pray that Kerry will be our next president.

[LeinesRed]

16. heck yeah!

[LeinesRed]

17. latest polls?

any from tenn?

[Claire Beth]

20. yes...check this out..

http://www.electoral-vote.com/

you can move your mouse over each state for specifics.

[wabeewoman]

22. Interesting how

they are defining weak:strong. Washington and Oregon are weak Kerry with 52% Kerry 44% Bush. Doesn't seem that weak...

[Claire Beth]

23. yeah....

I thought the same thing. Looks pretty strong for Kerry to me, too.

[The_Counsel]

26. I Think The Way They're Defining It Is This:

• Anything that is a literal tie is noted as such.


• Anything that is a statistical tie, or within the margin of error is noted as "Barely."


• Anything that is outside the MOE, but below a ten-point margin is noted as "Weak."


• Anything more than a ten-point lead is noted as "Strong."

In the case of WA and OR, Kerry is over 50%, but he "only" leads by about eight points. Sounds pretty accurate to me...

[Doug Decker]

27. Thanks for that site...

I'm gonna bookmark it.

:hi:

[Claire Beth]

28. you are very welcome and........

here is another site you might want to bookmark as well....

http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/info-battleground04.html

:hi:

[LeinesRed]

30. thanks!

I've saved it and will refer often!

[indepat]

29. Kerry will win Tennessee only when pigs can fly: by far most Tennesseans

are either apathetic, brain-dead, or brainwashed, trust me on this one.