With the "Kerry for 2008" rumor still floating, I wanted to run an unofficial DKOS poll. Read my analysis if you want to, but please answer the poll at the bottom regardless.
Here are some positives about a Kerry 2008 run:
- Kerry DID win more votes than any other Democrat ever. Assuming that "wedge" issues and national defense play a smaller role in 2008, Kerry should have a major leg up.
- Kerry does have an ability to learn from his mistakes and improve himself.
- Many personal flaws, like those in the Swiftboat ads, have either been debunked or marginalized.
- People KNOW Kerry now. It would be harder for Frist, McCain, or Jeb Bush to define him as unelectable.
- With voting irregularities, Kerry probably lost by a very small margin.
Here are some major negatives to a Kerry 2008 run:
- The guy is BORING. Nothing can make the guy into Bill Clinton---and to win a national election, we need someone Clinton-esque.
- The guy is inconsistent and unclear. His votes DO contradict themselves sometimes, and he doesn't explain the contradiction well at all.
- Kerry is a Senator---and it is inherently harder to win when your record is google-able.
- Kerry is from New England and we obviously do better with a Midwesterner (Westerner?) or Southerner on the ticket.
- He's just not popular with moderates or other key groups.