I went to a Kerry town hall meeting today in Manchester. Later, Iâll discuss in more length, but for now a quick update. Kerryâs delivery and ease on the stump (or I guess we donât have stumps anymore, barely even lecterns) has become much better. I donât think thereâs any denying this. Success breeds success and confidence breeds ease and a relaxed manner. Both are evident here.
The event got underway about a half hour late — a few hundred supporters in a basketball gym, with a platform in the center, atop which sat or stood Kerry, former Senator Max Cleland, Senator Fritz Hollings, and a veteran who served under Kerryâs command in Vietnam. Again, there was the saturation coverage of things military and particularly points related to veterans. Only at the end of Kerryâs brief talk was there an oblique reference to domestic policy.
Thereâs a shadow boxing game going on here. The campaign isnât so much talking to these voters about Kerryâs military background as itâs signaling (or trying to signal) that this is a candidate against whom President Bush wonât be able to play the patriotism card. Everything here is about who can beat Bush — either directly or indirectly.
Iâm off to a Dean event. More later.
