Redstate

By Pejman Yousefzadeh Posted in Democrats — Comments (1) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

Bill Clinton is advising John Kerry to "move away from talking about Vietnam, which had been the central theme of his candidacy, and focus instead on drawing contrasts with President Bush on job creation and health care policies." That's good advice for the Kerry campaign, as it may actually serve to make the campaign one that focuses on the future, instead of one mired in the past.

It is clear as well that Clinton advisors are becoming increasingly prominent in the Kerry camp. I suppose that is understandable, given the fact that Bill Clinton is the only Democratic President since 1976 to win an election. However, I can't help but think the changes that appear to be going on in the Kerry camp may cause some internal turmoil:

The installation of former Clinton lieutenants is creating two distinct camps at Mr. Kerry's campaign headquarters on McPherson Square in downtown Washington.

The first is the existing Kerry high command, which includes Mary Beth Cahill, the campaign manager; Bob Shrum, a senior adviser; Tad Devine, a senior adviser; and Stephanie Cutter, the communications director. The second is the Clinton camp, which includes Joe Lockhart, a former White House press secretary; Joel Johnson, a former senior White House aide; and Doug Sosnik, a former Clinton political director. And Howard Wolfson, a former chief of staff to Hillary Rodham Clinton, joined the campaign yesterday.

Members of both camps played down any suggestion of a Clinton takeover of a troubled campaign and insisted there was no tension between the two groups. Still, these days, Mr. Lockhart is stationed in an office on one side of the campaign war room; Mr. Shrum's office is on the opposite side.

In fact, there already appears to be tension. Consider Joel Johnson's comments about what the new message from the Kerry camp will supposedly be:

"It's very simple," Mr. Johnson said in an interview yesterday, describing what he said would be the template for Mr. Kerry's speeches and advertisements in the weeks ahead. "It's: 'Bush has taken us in the wrong direction. If you want more of the same for the next four years, vote for President Bush. If you want a new direction, John Kerry and John Edwards.' It's not complicated. Failed policies, jobs and the economy, health care."

To which one senior Kerry campaign official responds with the following:

"That's really groundbreaking," one senior aide said sarcastically when told about the focus on Mr. Bush's policies outlined by Mr. Johnson. "I think our negative frame should be that George Bush is a liar. He misled the country on Iraq. And then everything else that he lies about, bring it back to that."

The Kerry camp may have some growing pains to go through as a result of these changes. The question is whether they will be able to survive those growing pains and come out with a coherent message to take them through the final period before the election (which is less than two months), and whether any proffer of a coherent message will be harmed by infighting within the Kerry camp between those who have been with the Senator since the primary and caucus season, and those who are now coming on board.

I understand there are supposed to be debates between John Kerry and George W. Bush this fall. It would perhaps be even more fascinating to be a fly on the wall in the Kerry campaign and listen to all the arguing that may be going on there.