Does John Kerry have moles in his campaign?
Mickey Kaus, June 17, 2004: Q.: If you were a mischievous Bush person and wanted to make some trouble for John Kerry, what would you do? A.: Start a rumor that Kerry has picked John Edwards as his running mate. That will ratchet up the current press buzz that Edwards is the inevitable, obvious choice, ...
Mickey Kaus, June 17, 2004:
Mickey Kaus, June 17, 2004:
Q.: If you were a mischievous Bush person and wanted to make some trouble for John Kerry, what would you do? A.: Start a rumor that Kerry has picked John Edwards as his running mate. That will ratchet up the current press buzz that Edwards is the inevitable, obvious choice, due to his charismatic brilliance as a campaigner. Then, if Kerry doesn’t want to choose Edwards, he will a) be faced with annoying unwanted pressure and b) look like a vain man who doesn’t want to be upstaged. If Edwards is the pick, then a) the pre-emptive rumor will blow the big surprise of Kerry’s announcement and b) Kerry will look like he’s been stampeded. It’s win win! And it won’t be a hard rumor to start. (emphases in original)
Jim VandeHei and Lois Romano, “Kerry’s Search: In Depth, In Secret.” The Washington Post, June 18, 2004:
Sen. John Edwards (N.C.) has emerged as the favorite of many Democratic senators and Kerry friends and advisers. Edwards’s stock has shot up in recent weeks as private polling shows the freshman senator providing a boost to the ticket in key states because of his southern appeal and perceived likeability, two sources close to the campaign said. “The delay in announcing someone has helped Edwards,” a Democrat close to Kerry said…. Kerry’s competitive streak, which has run deep throughout his career, is also coloring his decision, friends say. Kerry, they say, sometimes appears conflicted when talking about his desire to find a strong leader, or a peer, who could without a doubt run the nation in wartime and his concern of being upstaged or unfavorably compared with his running mate, stylistically or professionally. (emphases added)
Daniel W. Drezner is a professor of international politics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and co-host of the Space the Nation podcast. Twitter: @dandrezner
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