I think it would really behoove Kerry to go positive right about now.

[Guaranteed]

I think people are getting sick of all the negative, and it's not gaining either Chimp or Kerry any ground. The voters want someone that's going to inspire some confidence and hope, and I think that, in fact, just the act of Kerry GOING positive would really show a lot of confidence after all of this nastiness. It would be a real breath of fresh air for people, and I think they're dying for it.

I saw that ad with the Statue of Liberty in it on Kerry's site- it looked really good. I hope he's running it all over the place.

It's important to have the voters go into the voting booths with a good taste in their mouths when they think of Kerry.

[Cocoa]

1. I would normally agree

but I just heard Frank Luntz recommend Kerry do just that, so I'm going to assume it's not to Kerry's advantage to go positive.

I loved the Statue of Liberty in that ad too.

[Guaranteed]

2. I thought that ad was really inspiring

as a positive reminder of what America stands for, and really stood in stark contrast to what Bush has done to our country.

Honestly, I think Luntz is right. It's time for Kerry to turn the corner and start giving people some hope. The negative attacks have outlived their usefulness, and, like I said before, I think Kerry doing this would actually put him, subliminally at least, if not actually, in the front-runner position.

[Wols]

5. Positive won't win you any votes at this point....

at least I don't think so. I still think he needs to make up some ground. The main thing is a huge get out the vote in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida. We've got to make sure everyone in those states who has even the slightest notion of voting for Kerry/ dislikes Bush goes to the polls.

[Guaranteed]

7. Yeah, it really will.

Not only are people sick of the negativity, they're sick of Bush. They hate him. The only reason so many won't vote for Kerry is that they don't feel inspired by him. They want someone else that they can believe in, and Kerry laid excellent groundwork for that in the debates. Both of them then spent the next three weeks beating the crap out of each other, but at this point, the voters know all of the bad about both.

An inspiring message for the voters to take into the booths with them, to allow them to vote for Kerry given all of Bush's bullshit, is exactly what we need right now.

[seabeyond]

3. people sya they dont want it, adn kerry gave them positive

clear to sept. and kerry was losing ground. kerry went on the attack, what could be said neg, though i dont see it as neg since he is giving truth and not going personal, and his poll numbers went up. so when people tell me they are tired of the neg, and both candidates do it, i am not going to let this go by. i am going to say the people demanded it of kerry. when he was positive his numbers were down, when he attacked his numbers went up, so the people get to own that. and if they really want a positive campaighn, would have behooved them to reward kerry with their vote to show the politicians that is truely what they were looking for in a leader

[Guaranteed]

4. They didn't know him well enough, then, and that was when

the Smear Vets came out.

This time, it's really different. There's a week left, and he really needs to do this.

I'm not saying that Kerry didn't need to go negative, then. I agree with his campaign strategy for the most part up until now. But at this point, with a week left, he needs to leave the voters with a good, hopeful message. All the negative damage that can be done to either candidate has been done.

[Julien Sorel]

14. His poll numbers went up because of the debates.

He wasn't "positive" in August; he simply wasn't buying ad time. But his stump speech had plenty of things to say about Bush.

I am so incredibly sick of the ex post reasoning people use in politics. It's plain lazy to see two events and assume causality, especially when it fits your own preconceived notions.

[ksoze]

6. Accroding to Joe lockart on Face The Nation

Kerry goes positive next week to counter Bush's negativity.

[Guaranteed]

8. Really? Excellent.

That'll put us in the frontrunner position, and should wrap it up for us.

[stray cat]

9. Our best days our yet to come!

nt

[Guaranteed]

10. He needs to find a really inspiring message, though,

not just your usual BS.

Again, like with that Statue of Liberty ad, he needs to remind people of what America really stands for.

[jdots]

11. I think Kerry is positive and agree with you

He has shown great restraint considering the mean false attacks he has taken like a gentle man.I would like it if he never mentioned Bush but this political game has become a sport to sell product.Kerry's staff knows how hurt some of us felt when Gore seemed to give up.

[Champion Jack]

12. See:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1153689

[Guaranteed]

13. Yup, just saw that.

:)

Awesome.

[TheDonkey]

15. he can mix positivity, warmth and attacks to bush

we can't let our gaurd down like we did in summer just staying positive. BUT I'm sure Americans are hungry for greater optimism.

[Guaranteed]

16. Mmm...I think it's time to stop talking about Bush entirely

and start reminding people of what America once was.

Just push Bush out of the picture. If Kerry can do that effectively, it'll be the best possible attack he could pull off. It contrasts what he has done with what is possible, and what people want America to be.

[terrya]

17. I think he will. People are already aware of Bush's negatives.

Kerry is a very smart, shrewd politician. He didn't win Senate race after Senate race just out of sheer luck. Kerry is going to be upbeat and positive. America will hear the reasons to vote FOR Kerry. He's going to make people feel good about voting for Kerry.