WP: Debate Team Helps Kerry Prepare for Face-Off With Bush

Erasing Voters' Doubts About Consistency and Ability to Lead Will Be Democrat's Biggest Challenge

Struggling to put a tumultuous August behind him, John F. Kerry is increasingly turning his attention to the events he hopes will refocus the race for the White House and erase President Bush's lead: the upcoming debates.

In recent weeks, the Democratic presidential nominee has huddled several times with top advisers to study Bush's attacks, debate style and vulnerabilities as part of preparations for the first head-to-head showdown of this campaign, tentatively scheduled for Sept. 30 in the battleground state of Florida.

Kerry has told aides that Bush's debating skills, which he described privately to one aide as "cagey" but crafty, are underestimated by many Democrats. Among the Massachusetts senator's biggest concerns, a top aide said, is Bush's ability to lower expectations heading into debates and then to stick to a few simple messages during them.

To find Bush's weaknesses and exploit them, Kerry has tapped lawyer Ron Klain, a top adviser to Al Gore in 2000, to run his debate-prep team, and Greg Craig, White House special counsel during President Bill Clinton's impeachment saga, to play Bush in practice sessions. Robert Shrum, a top political adviser who was instrumental in Kerry's 1996 Senate debates with William F. Weld, is playing a prominent role in shaping and sharpening Kerry's lines. Vernon Jordan is heading a different team of advisers who are negotiating the terms and timing of the debates, but the well-known lawyer and Clinton friend is also assisting with prep work.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17094-2004Sep12.html

in the primary debates. Also, not to say "ummm" a lot and to give short and concise answers.

You know, like the glass of vodka the Shrub has on the podium to make the lies go down more smoothly.

This guy just doesn't light any fires. I'm sorry. Either he was never a wordsmith or he has lost his touch.

If Kerry is looking for someone to craft some phrases, he ought to look to Morford or Pitt.

I suspect it's a habit that would be hard to break, and not really related to water.

He WILL be asked about his vote for the IWR in 2002. He better have a good, sound biteable answer, without all the policy wonkishness. There's just too many stupid and uneducated people out there who aren't capable of digesting the details and nuance of intricate policy debates. Bush speaks to that demographic because he's one of them.

"to force weapons inspections. It's not my fault Bush misfired."

Unfortunately, that line's always been a Kerry fabrication to justify his IWR vote after arguing against the IWR on the Senate floor. Flip flop number one. He lost my support in the primaries as a result.

Secondly, the IWR he voted for said no such thing. It merely abrogated Congress's Constitutional power to Delcare War, and handed it to Bush, without any contstraints, on a silver platter.

Rove et. al. know this and will make mincemeat of Kerry unless Kerry changes his tune and offers for the first time a REAL choice between himself and Bush. I've been hammered by rah-rah-Kerry folks wearing blinders that this "WILL NOT HAPPEN". Kerry's insane stubbornness in attempting to justify his IWR vote with BS piled on BS is his biggest weakness, and expect Bushco to go for the jugular during the debates. I expect Kerry, unfortuantely, to shoot himself in the foot. No Presidential candidate who refuses to listen to his constituents has ever had a ghost's chance of winning.

Sorry, but I'm just friggin' fed up having to repeat this warning while vitually no one on DU and certainly absolutely nobody in the Kerry campaign, including the Kerry blog has any tolerance for constructive criticism on this critical issue.

"My Pet Goat" in case there is a question on great works of literature.

1. Understand that Bush will lie without hesitation

1. Be prepared to counter any lie and make him look like the liar he is.

Every day we read all of Kerry campaign plans in the Wash Post & NY Times.

There will be no surprises for the Bush team.

Bush, on the other hand, keeps everything under wraps.

What a joke!

It's raising expectations for Bush, which is something Kerry wants to do. Describing Bush as a "good debater" or "cunning" or "crafty" raises expectations for *.

Of course, it will work only if it get's play in the media, but at least they're trying.

at Kerry's expense. Kerry needs to have some kind of snappy response ready- like a poster above mentioned "My Pet Goat." That would be a good topic to zing Bush with- it could very well rattle him.

Kerry will be "Gored." Just watch ...

other dates? I demand bush does all three!! Wear the master bater down! Oops, did I say that? :evilgrin:

I think the "debate(s)(?)" will be tricky but interesting in any case. I learned that each candidate is boning up the other's strengths/weaknesses via video clips of former debates at other times.

The one thing that bothers me is J.Baker being onboard again with Bush. That is another evil neocon puke the world would be better off without. Baker and Olsen are some ball busting bastards to be sure.

Let's hope that Kerry has some powerhouse lawyers and others in his debate prep team also....

But, that he gave him his trust, as did the other senators. To go the UN and make his case for the war on those who attacked this country.

And explain then how he betrayed not only the trust of the US senate but the us armed forces and the American people by misdirecting the war on terrorist who killed Americans to a war on a sovereign nation who was no threat to Americans.

It merely handed Congress' Constitutional power to Declare War to Bush without any conditions on a sliver platter. It was an act of spineless beltway dems cowardace through and through. And Kerry was a part of it, and is still trying to falesly justify it with BS piled on BS.

Kerry invented Bush's undocumented promise to go to the U.N. Kerry can't prove that promise ever existed. Bush went anyway, cynically, for sure, and snubbed the U.N. as no President in history has ever done. But Kerry gave Bush a blank check to do just that. And Bush didn't need the IWR to go to the U.N. anyway.

Do not expect that Bush will debate you in a debate. Bush will answer all debate questions by spewing Republican talking points designed to ridicule you.

God, how I wish that the candidates could have time to ask each other questions.