Bob Shrum says Kaine was a dud - which means he did a great job!

[beaconess]

Since Shrum is usually wrong - yet he keeps getting hired as a Democratic campaign strategist.

And they wonder why they have trouble winning?

[earthside]

1. Sometimes a Dud is a Dud

Even Bob "Let's be Nice to Bush" Shrum can explain the obvious.

[IndianaGreen]

2. Shrum was right for a change. Compare Kaine's bland speech with...

Kerry's:

“President Bush uses national security as a political weapon while day by day we become less secure. We’re bogged down in Iraq where there were no weapons of mass destruction while Osama bin Laden is still on the loose, North Korea has quadrupled its nuclear weapons, Iran is closer to nuclear weapons, and Hamas has come to power. Our brave men and women in uniform deserve presidential leadership equal to their sacrifice. Americans deserve the truth. President Bush needs to stop retreating from reality. We can’t afford leadership that still cuts and runs from the truth.

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Kerry_on_SOTU_Bush_fantasyland_0131.html

[Pirate Smile]

3. Ha, interesting little bit of analysis by someone on Kos about it.

Kaine succeeded because only Republicans watch the SOTU

by daveweigel
Tue Jan 31, 2006 at 10:15:45 PM PDT

The open thread is getting too crowded, but if there are complaints I can delete this diary. Here are my points on Kaine's address.

Here's the thing. Going in, Democrats knew that unless there's an extraordinary circumstance ("What will he say about the impeachment?" or "Will he declare war?"), the SOTU audience is mostly composed of partisans from the president's party. Check CNN's instant poll - 68% of people who watched Bush said the country is going in the right direction. Those people are Republicans.

So they knew this and looked for:

A fresh face who hasn't been turned into Goldstein by Fox, Rush, all the stuff Republicans get their news from.

Someone who could talk in Republican-friendly language - faith, responsibility, 9/11.

Kaine had those qualities, and he could talk about 9/11 a bit because part of it happened here in VA. (The Pentagon.) He led off his speech talking about being a Christian missionary - that might have intrigued some conservatives who were rolling their eyes. It was a subtle, smart choice, and instant reaction on the cable shows - even Fox - was positive. Fox viewers who love Bush got to see Fred Barnes praising this Democrat's speech.

That wouldn't have happened if the Dems went with Gore, Murtha, or anyone else some people were suggesting. Republicans would have shut it off or heard Fox et al bashing them for the next couple days, reinforcing their stereotypes.

I wouldn't say Kaine's speech was perfect (some bad timing reading the teleprompter), but I think it's going to have the right effect.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/2/1/01545/08971

[sandnsea]

5. What's more

Alot of nice security moms and senior citizens liked him, I guarantee it. When Fox comes out and bashes him, these nice folks would get a real taste of the fact that they bash everybody.

Except Fox probably won't because Democrats are. Completely destroying the goal because the targeted audience will just end up with the impression that Democrats can't even give their designated speaker any respect.

[patrioticliberal]

4. Shrum was right