I must face the fact that....

[Joe Chalupa]

Kerry may lose the election.

Poll Shows Bush With Solid Lead. Despite Worries, Voters Cite Lack of Clarity From Kerry
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A54435-2004Sep27.html)

President Bush heads into the first presidential debate with a solid lead over John F. Kerry, boosted by the perception that he is a stronger leader with a clearer vision, despite deep concerns about Iraq and the pace of the economic recovery, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News Poll and interviews with voters in battleground states.

Bush's relentless attacks on Kerry have badly damaged the Democratic nominee, the survey and interviews showed. Voters routinely describe Kerry as wishy-washy, as a flip-flopper and as a candidate they are not sure they can trust, almost as if they are reading from Bush campaign ad scripts. But Kerry's problems are also partly of his own making. Despite repeated efforts to flesh out his proposals on Iraq, terrorism and other issues, he has yet to break through to undecided voters as someone who has clear plans for fixing the country's biggest problems.

~~Kerry just isn't the messenger some thought he could be.

(gulp)

[Joe Chalupa]

And let me make one thing clear.

I still believe that Kerry is the better man for leading our country in the right path.
His campaign went astray and he didn't make his positions clear in the beginning and his not being clear has cost him among undecided voters.

Can he still turn things around?

Yes, but I don't think even the debates, unless Bush looks real bad, are going to sway any voters.

But I'm still casting my vote (even though Yonivore says it doesn't count) for my choice for president on Nov. 2.

VOTE AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!

[Nbadan]

Eh, Gallup is one of the most inaccurate polls there is out there. The latest Harris poll has Kerry up by 1 and Zogby has Kerry down by 3. Going into the last week of the 2000 campaign Gore was down by as much as 5-10 points, and as Kerry has proven in past Senate campaigns and in the Democratic party nominee race, he is a very strong finisher.

[Bandit2981]

i think its still too early to draw any conclusions at this point...many polls have Bush leading slightly, but things can change quickly in either direction. one thing is for sure, if bush wins, kerry will go down as the biggest loser in american political history!

[Joe Chalupa]

I agree but I haven't seen much good news except Kerry is starting to be more aggresive.

He must hit hard during the debates.

Come on Kerry!!! Stick that chin out there and fight!!

[Nbadan]

Kerry is a great debater. Style or substance? They are both important, but I think people are looking for real answers and the same old rhetoric without a clear, straight-talked about vision isn't gonna cut it this time around with voters.

Look at the important issues, the war in Iraq, a majority of voters now question whether the war effort was worth it. The economy, over 1 million net jobs lost under G.W. Bush, the only time this has happened since Hubert Hoover. Health care, more likely voters think that Kerry would do a more adequate job reforming Health care than G.W. Bush.

Whether right-wingers want to admit it or not, when it comes to real issues, the democrats hold all the high cards. Now can they play them right?

[xrayzebra]

Kerry barks at the moon and chases rabbits. When it gets
cool he goes to gathering nuts. The man is an absolute
idiot. Now he has painted himself orange. Hmmmmm:elephant :elephant :elephant :elephant :elephant :elephant :elephant :elephant

[Tommy Duncan]

That last Harris poll was from two weeks ago. Get some fucking perspective already. Here's a good way to start:

www.realclearpolitics.com...kerry.html (http://www.realclearpolitics.com/bush_vs_kerry.html)

No surprise danny boy cites an old poll and the only one out of the last 25 that doesn't have Bush up.

On a state by state basis it looks even worse for Kerry. There is no reason why Kerry should have to send his VP candidate to campaign in fucking New Jersey at this point in the campaign, nor why he himself should have to campaign in Wisconsin now.

[Bandit2981]

one problem for the democrats is that there are too many people like Joe, who start panicking when the going gets tough...republicans seem to be stronger in resolve, and never admit anything is over until its over, fighting until the very end. gotta hand the republicans that character trait. come on marine!! show me what you are made of!! :cooldevil

[Nbadan]

W. had a 10-14 point lead in Wisconsin the lead is down to 6. New Jersey will go Kerry in the end. New Hampshire and Minnesota are in play again. Overall, the race is way to close to call.

[Tommy Duncan]

The last Wisconsin poll has Bush up 14 points. The one you are referring to was taken 2 weeks ago.

Even if Bush was only up 6 points, should Bush be up 6 points in Wisconsin at this point?

Should Minnesota even be "in play" at this point? WTF.

[Tommy Duncan]

Overall, the race is way to close to call.

Bush is up 5 to 8 points in most national polls and is solidly up in Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Ohio, West Virginia, and Nevada. Also Bush is showing strength in those GOP bastions of Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, New Mexico, and Maine.

It's wishful thinking to claim this race is "close" or "tied" at the moment.

[Joe Chalupa]

I'm not panicking, just facing the fact that Kerry's campaign has not gotten the job done and his message got lost in all the Viet Nam hoopla.

People would rather stick with Dubya then vote for someone who they are not sure where he stands.

I'm still voting for Kerry and still think he's the better man for the job but unfortunatley people aren't listening to me.

[Bandit2981]

It's wishful thinking to claim this race is "close" or "tied" at the moment.
i agree you cant say the race is really "tied" right now, since the majority of polls show Bush with a slight lead. however, i still think Bush's lead, which varies from 1 point to 8 points in various polls, is well within striking distance for kerry, if he plays the cards right. time will tell.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

I don't think Joe is panicking. Don't get pissed at him for just applying an objective eye towards the campaigns and realizing how things are starting to shake down.

[Bandit2981]

im not pissed at Joe, im just pointing out that many democrats take that "the sky is falling!" attitude when kerry lags behind...that is a pretty objective and accurate assessment...I know Bush is winning, but i still dont think he has it locked up just yet

[Tommy Duncan]

Bush's lead is more than "slight". It's been some time since a poll had Bush up by anything less than 4%.

www.realclearpolitics.com...kerry.html (http://www.realclearpolitics.com/bush_vs_kerry.html)

Looking at it state by state the notion of a "slight" lead is even less plausible.

[NameDropper]

Rumor has it the popular vote me be close but the electoral votes will go to big bad W.

[Yonivore]

"Kerry may lose the election."
Joe, I'd lay money on it.

"...even though Yonivore says it doesn't count..."
I'm voting for Bush that day...the more the merrier.