It used to be Edwards. Now, Republicans say they
fear Gephardt the most.
By railing against Mexico's trading practices and free trade in general, Gephardt is considered the biggest defender of workers among the Democrats "hands down" and best positioned to oust Bush, LaHood said. Gephardt has been a forceful critic of Bush's trade policies and vowed to curtail foreign trade if elected [...]
[M]ost Republicans said turning out party activists will be more important than wooing swing voters next year. Some Republicans fear Gephardt alone could persuade the unions, perhaps the most influential Democratic constituency and one with the potential to spend tens of millions of dollars, to treat the 2004 election like "their last hurrah," said Grover Norquist, a GOP activist close to Bush political adviser Karl Rove. Bush has been at odds with the unions throughout his presidency.
Norquist said Republicans are most worried about Gephardt inciting a passionate union effort that will stir African American turnout to historic highs in big cities and key areas across the country such as Florida.
As a note of caution, several GOP strategists recalled Republicans thinking Clinton would be the easiest to defeat in 1992, and Democrats eager for Ronald Reagan in 1980. They were the last two-term presidents.
Yeah, Gep could take out Bush so they should be worried about him.
They should also be worried about Clark, Dean, Edwards, and Kerry -- 'cause any of those guys can take out Bush as well.
One thing that struck me about this piece is that Republicans still think Bush can ride national security to victory. They say, "Gep is a threat, because he voted for the war".
But the war will be toxic by next November (how will they spin 500-1000 dead?). I think the bigger threat to Bush will be those candidates who can cleanly differentiate themselves from Bush on his war -- and there are only two of serious candidates that can do so: Dean and Clark.
But Bush is vulnerable regardless. He'll need every last penny of that $200 million he's raising to remain competitive.