Will the "Class of 1984" Be Graduating Again?

Interesting analysis by David Yepsen in the Des Moines Register yesterday:

The 2004 Democratic presidential campaign is taking on the trappings of the 1984 contest. There's a glut of candidates - eight then, nine now. They're starting to spend much of their time traveling from one debate to another courting different party constituencies at these political "cattle shows." ....

It all means Democrats, who are so fond of remembering 1992 when a sour economy undid the first President Bush, should also remember the history of the Class of '84 - the year they helped undo themselves. By letting a campaign become little more than a grinding cattle show, they may move too far to the left. Front-running candidates can become nothing more than the targets of the lesser candidates, who try to elevate themselves by bringing down those most likely to become the nominee. Leading candidates often can't respond in kind for fear of alienating the supporters of that minor candidate in the fall campaign. Everyone's stature is diminished and phrases like the "Seven Dwarfs" start being tossed about. It's hard for anyone to break from the pack without saying far-out things such as "I'll raise taxes" or "I'll halt weapons production" - statements that have a way of winding up in GOP attack ads....

(Thanks, Ryan.)

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Fri. 05/23/03 07:52:42 AM
Categorized as Political.