Having sown up the nomination, Senator Kerry now bears the responsibility of representing all Democrats in the national debate. What better way to do that then to co-opt the best parts of his various competitors' campaigns?
I know what you're thinking. If JFK starts talking about "two Americas" or "taking my country back", people will think he's nothing but a panderer and a thief. But I think there's a difference between stealing
rhetoric and stealing
themes. The former will get you in trouble. The latter won't - and, indeed, you could argue that it's the nominee's
duty to represent the entire party, and, as such, to speak out on ideas that other candidates have campaigned on.
Steal Edwards' "positive, uplifting" message. It is clear that the Bush/Rove machine will go heavy on the negative, at least up until the summer. Kerry would be well-advised to steer clear of negative ads and negative rhetoric. There's a lot of voters out there who truly are sick of the same old tit-for-tat mudslinging in politics - Edwards tapped into that sentiment. Kerry ought to also. Besides, there are plenty of surrogates who can do the dirty work on talk shows and at rallies (and Bush's record, frankly, speaks for itself).
Simply put, Bush-bashing will not work for the general election. By staying positive and above the fray, Kerry will look more inevitable and Bush will look more desperate. And it's the best way to counter the Republican attack onslaught.
We saw a little bit of this Edwards-esque message last night, when JFK said that his campaign is about "replacing doubt with hope, and fear with security." Let's hope we see more.
Steal Dean's message of empowerment. The best line of the Good Doctor's stump speech was that "the great lie spoken by politicians is that if you elect me, I'll solve all your problems. The truth is that the future of our nation rests in your hands, and not in mine." I'm not suggesting that Kerry repeat this verbatim on the campaign trail (even though it's damn inspiring) but it would behoove him to talk about how "you have the power" - how it's the people that will make a difference, not the federal government.
JFK has a lot of work to do in this area. When Edwards asked him in the last debate "do you think you can change America from Washington, D.C.?", Kerry's answer (something like "Well, the Congress and White House are there!"!) was far from adequate. Talk about personal responsibility and empowerment and you not only appeal to Deaniacs but also disaffected small-government conservatives. Plus, it takes an issue away from Bush/Rove.
Steal Lieberman's values talk. Like it or not, most Americans will not vote for someone who they don't think shares their values. Lieberman recognized this, and he also realized that people haven't forgotten about Clinton's misbehavior. JFK must emphasize that his Presidency will not only live up to the highest standards of character, honesty and integrity, but that he will demand it of his entire Administration. He will eliminate actual and apparent conflicts of interest. I think Kerry seems to most people like a decent, respectful, honorable guy (if maybe a little boring) - his campaign should emphasize this, especially in comparison to the Misleader.
Steal Kucinich's ad team. I don't know what it is about Kucinich's TV ads, but I love them. They're direct, moving, and - get this - funny. Bush shouldn't have a monopoly on humor in this campaign. JFK can be a goofy, irreverant sort and it would serve him well to let people see this more human side to him.
It's certainly a fine line between shrewd campaigning and mere pandering. To incorporate these themes is to risk seeming like a calculating politician, who is willing to say anything for a vote. But I have a lot of faith in the Senator's political skills and his ability to earn the public's trust. And I wouldn't misunderestimate him.