The warchest is coming in handy already. Kerry's favorable/unfavorable ratings have taken a 10% net loss in just the last two weeks or so. Bush is aleady pounding away, framing Kerry for voters. This just in from the Associated Press.
John Kerry's words are being used against him in President Bush's new television ad, which accuses the presumptive Democratic nominee of waffling on military issues.Airing nationally on cable TV, the commercial uses the same footage and many of the same lines as a spot Bush is airing in West Virginia this week criticizing Kerry for voting against an $87 billion aid package for Iraq and Afghanistan last year...
Kerry's tortured response to the West Virginia ad underscored the difficulties of defending Senate votes on massive spending bills loaded with hundreds of unrelated provisions. The Democrat explained that he voted against the $87 billion bill because he did not support the president's military and reconstruction plans. Kerry also noted that he supported a failed amendment that would have paid for the Iraq and Afghanistan programs by repealing Bush's tax cuts.
"I actually did vote for his $87 billion, before I voted against it," Kerry said Tuesday.
Bush's campaign tacked that quote to the end of the West Virginia ad, which was edited slightly to make room for Kerry's response.
The White House believes the next two months may be more important than the last 60 days of the campaign, because they have a chance to define Kerry before Americans get to know him.
And it's only March.
Ezra over at Pandagon, had this to say about the Kerry waffling issue.
The only thing I can see to do is get out in front of it, defuse the issue. I fear Kerry's denials that he ever shows a hint of waffling are going to kill him; they won't work. What he can do is reframe the issue; in my opinion, it's his only chance.
Hear, hear.