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[Not Me]

Originally posted by bilmore
Kerry has a profound problem here. He has, as AG said, represented his constituents over the years. They were, of course, one of the most liberal constituencies in the country. If the USA were made up of Bostonians, he'd be a lock in November.

But now, he needs to appeal to a nation of voters who are quite a bit less liberal. So, he's been remaking himself as a moderate. He's NOT a moderate. But, that's why he can't simply say "yeah, I voted that way - that's how I and my people felt. Damn warmongering Reaganites . . ." That's why he's having problems getting past his post-VN activities - they can't be explained as the act of a moderate. They were entirely consistent with his own beliefs, and those of his MA constituents - but they do not sell well to the rest of the country.

(Forgot my last para: This is what Miller meant by, the votes define the man, not the campaigning. Kerry's campaigning as a moderate. His history of votes belies that. He's a hard-core liberal, no matter how desperately he tries to hide that.)

And this is why if the Dems want to win the WH, they cannot nomiate NE liberals like Howard Dean and John Kerry. They have to nominate moderates from the South or Mid west. But the base of the Dem party loves NE liberals.