Random Thoughts on the Debate

OK, maybe I'm being delusional today, but here are my thoughts on the debate and the race in general. One, the media does not like Wes Clark. Virtually all of his questions, with the exception of the one on the PATRIOT Act, were gotcha questions. Were they out to get him? Sure. Did they? No. He handled all the questions reasonably well and never lost his cool. True he never got to talk about jobs or health care or education, but I don't really care. As I've said before this is all about electability, and it was more important for Wes to handle gotcha questions -- which, after all, are coming from the RNC -- than policy questions. This proved to me and, I hope, to the voters that this is all bullshit and it won't rattle Wes in the general election. The RNC is also using and losing their best material in the primaries. It's clearly an attempt to prevent Wes from getting the nomination, but if it doesn't work and at least some of the press debunks it as they are doing (e.g., the way they've jumped on the false Drudge Report stories) then they are in real trouble in the general election. If I'm right, Wes will take at least second in New Hampshire and off we go.

Everybody did reasonably well in the debate, which means it won't shake up the race. Dean sounded like a rational man last night, but it's too late. I don't think he can reinvent himself that fast or that the public will buy it. Dean as a reasonable man doesn't have much to offer. Kerry did fine but I can't detect any difference between this performance and several of the previous except he didn't attack anyone. Obviously he got a big boost from Iowa and resurrected his campaign, but I would much rather be heading south to fight Kerry than heading south after two Dean wins to fight Dean. Edwards continues to be in the fight despite his lack of experience and apparent youth, which is a tribute to his abilities as a candidate to connect with his audience. He reminds me of Clinton in that regard. He will be tough in South Carolina, but I don't see him doing well anywhere else. Lieberman is history.

Now here are my personal observations about Florida where I am a county coordinator. I have been canvassing for Clark for about three months. He has remarkable appeal to the true conservatives in the Republican party those who think that deficits do matter. There is also a significant number of Republicans who aren't happy with the Iraq war and the money it's costing this country. I have been busy helping numerous Republicans change their party affiliation so that they can vote for Clark. Many are also active in the campaign itself; this is especially true of ex-military people. He is the only Democrat that has this crossover appeal. Clark can win Florida both in the primary and the general election. And if that's true Bush is in a lot more trouble than the conventional wisdom would have us believe.

Keep those numbers moving in New Hampshire. I will be leaving in a few days to go help in South Carolina , then it's back to Florida for the big push to the March 9 primary. Go Wes!

Mickey