I’ve been reading a ton lately about how this election is really about one issue. “It’s the war, stupid” seems to be the catchphrase. After watching portions of the Republican convention and reading all the followup afterwards, it’s clear that the Republicans believe that swing voters should simply vote on one issue, terrorism. This strategy has been effective in elections past, so there’s no reason to see the campaigns move away from that type of strategy.
I do wish that it didn’t work, though. To look at a pair of candidates and to decide that one issue trumps your agreements or disagreements with a particular candidate is silly to the point of being harmful. If one issue is so compelling that a majority favors it, usually the public wins those debates. It doesn’t matter whether the President is Bush, Clinton, or Kerry… the public usually gets its way. Take a look at tax cuts, the 9/11 Commission (the one Bush opposed before he supported), campaign finance reform, the war in Iraq, welfare reforms, etc., etc., etc. In the end, convincing the public is the important thing with single issues, and majority opinions generally influence the current administration.
I would note that it also doesn’t really matter who the President is… W has been just as malleable on his hard and fast positions as any other president in modern history.
(of course, it’s the threat of the single issue voter that gets the President to change his mind, so I fear this is a chicken and egg problem… 
)
September 7th, 2004 at 4:56 PM
Unfortunately, this is exactly the way it has been for years and the way it will be for years. I have broken the one cardinal rule of campaigning, “don’t ask a question you don’t already know the answer to?”
I ask every person at every door the same question, “What are the most important issues to you and your family?”
Why do I ask this question? I engage in a discussion about topics of importance to the people I am speaking with at the time. Sometimes, I am not in line with the views of the individual but at other times, I am. Interesting note(s): (a) Every person has respected the fact that I have been able to engage them in conversations of importance, not just the same old smash and grab politician (smash the door, say the agenda, grab the vote)… (b) they respect that I am open minded enough to take their opinion into account for future consideration or when I am not as up to date on an issue as I should be, I simply tell them and let them know that I will research the issue a little further and call them back (which I always do).
I guess what I am trying to say is that politics has become about sound bites, not substance. But when you make it about substance, people do respect you for it. They may not always agree but they do respect you for it.
Sound bites are simple… pick a topic and beat it to death. That’s why you have the simple belief… in 1992, Clinton used “It’s the economy, stupid” and made every issue about the economy… this year “War” or “Terrorism” … take your pick… it’s what they will try and use…
Although Kerry has gone back to the Clinton roster and playbook this past weekend… I wonder how it will play out for him.
September 7th, 2004 at 6:46 PM
Actually, I was quite impressed that Clinton volunteered to have open-heart surgery, to bring back attention to the Democrats after a full week of Republican coverage. He is a true team player.
September 8th, 2004 at 9:18 AM
I was making reference to the fact that John Kerry is hiring anyone and everyone who ever worked for Clinto to spark his campaign… not the open heart surgery.