GOP Might Have Worn Out Its Strategies - ABC News

[WillyT]

<snip>

The widespread assumption among Republicans going into the tough terrain of the 2006 midterms -- and the widespread fear among Democrats -- was that the Republicans would once again define their opponents in terms that would turn voters off. This approach -- "disqualifying" the Democratic candidates as "unacceptable" -- was considered vital because of the tough political climate facing the president's party in his sixth year in office, made worse by the war in Iraq, high gas prices and ethics scandals.

Many Republicans believed that what worked on Kerry in 2004 would work on the far less-experienced Democratic candidates running in competitive races all over the country. Republicans would turn a potential evaluation of their incumbent candidates -- a referendum in troubled times -- into a "choice" election, in which the Democratic choice would appear to many as too liberal and too kooky. But with just over two weeks to go before Election Day, so far, public and private polling, as well as interviews with campaign strategists in both parties, suggests that these standard Republican tactics are not working.


In Ohio, for instance, where the Democrats are running extremely liberal House members for both governor and the U.S. Senate, their candidates are far ahead in the polls, despite increasingly urgent attempts to paint them as out of step with the Buckeye State. In most of the races targeted by both sides, Democrats' poll standing holds steady, or is even improving.

Republicans cannot make the war in Iraq stop before Election Day or wipe away the stain of the various ethics controversies or make Americans suddenly feel better about the economy. They've believed for most of 2006, however, that they could still hold on to power by making the prospect of Democratic rule seem worse. Why the Republicans' negative attacks have not worked as they have in the past is a topic for another day, but for now, their failure is one main reason the president's party appears headed for a less-than-perfect day on Nov. 7.

<snip>

Link: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/print?id=2586629

I don't think I can hold my breath much longer...



:hi:

[hatrack]

1. Uh, yeah . . .

Perceptive of those bright journalists at ABC!

[Jackpine Radical]

2. Doze gize is schmardt.

Glad we got 'em around ta tell us wot's goin on out dere.

[WillyT]

6. LOL !!! - Hey Man, Better Late Than Not At All !!!

:shrug:

[The Brethren]

3. The GOP has worn out it's welcome

in our government. So what are squatters' rights going for these days on a federal level?

[truthisfreedom]

4. they didn't count on terrah-fatigue. they'll have to manufacture a real

big terrattack to change the momentum going on now. and of course, that will prove that they didn't keep us safe. so that won't work either.

somebody needs to do a political comic that includes an elephant graveyard. the thugs seem to be involuntarily lining up to jump in like lemmings.

[Straight Shooter]

5. Too liberal and too kooky?

Thanks for nothing, ABC, for the not-so-subtle technique of painting Democrats with such a broad brush of sophomoric insults.

[blm]

7. Their past strategy was purge voter rolls and rig machines.

.