Share
PrintThe Hiller Instinct: Race for the White House
Not very long ago, George Bush had a smooth drive to re-election. As statues of Saddam fell, the president's job approval rating rose. But now it's falling too...
Americans still dying in Iraq and no discovery of weapons of mass destruction have weakened Bush…
President Bush
"In order to placate the critics and the cynics about intentions of the United States, we need to produce evidence."
Add in a feeble economy and Bush looks like a vulnerable top gun. But, as usual, the democrats can't decide who should be their trigger-man.
Stuart Rothenberg, Political Analyst
"Right now the sense is that any of three or four candidates could eventually emerge as the democratic nominee."
The three or four are Howard Dean, John Kerry, Dick Gephardt and Joe Lieberman, putting the rest of the democrats running on the ropes.
Potential Voter
"How are you doing?"Howard Dean (D) Presidential Candidate
"I'm good."
Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean is the democrat's cover boy and lightning rod. He is first in the polls in Iowa and New Hampshire and first on TV…
Howard Dean political ad
"Has anybody really stood-up against George Bush and his policies. Don't you think it's time somebody did?"
Color John Kerry frustrated. He has money and a message, but Dean has momentum. So Kerry searches for an issue…
Sen. John Kerry (D) Presidential Candidate
"It ought to be clear to everyone in the United States that the one person who ought to be laid off in America is George W. Bush."
Dean's success forces other democrats, like Connecticut's Joe Lieberman, to argue Dean is too liberal to beat Bush.
Sen. Joe Lieberman (D) Presidential Candidate
"The answer to his outdated extremist ideology is not to be found in outdated extremes of our own."
And if Dean falters, veteran congressman Dick Gephardt hopes democrats will turn to tradition…
Rep. Dick Gephardt (D) Presidential Candidate
"It's time we had a president in this country, who will stand up for the working people of this country and be proud to be identified with organized labor."
George Bush is beatable, but that doesn't mean the democrats will beat him. The president is a charismatic and cutthroat campaigner, while the democrats right now are uncertain and insecure. In short, Bush knows who he is and the democrats don't.