::Wednesday, March 03, 2004::
THE BATTLE LINES ARE DRAWN!
..Sen. John Kerry's victory will now focus both parties on Election 2004. Although polls show a neck to neck race for the presidency, odds favor Sen. Kerry for the simple calculation of the economy and the Iraq war. The president's support for an amendment to gay marriage is designed to shore up his base which will be crucial in a closely contested election. It will not be enough, however. Although the economy is improving, the jobs picture will remain sluggish and the economy will not add enough jobs in time for consumer confidence to reaffirm the growth of the economy in the elections. That's why Republican focus on values and gay marriage is a crucial strategy to distract people from the loss of jobs, the growing deficit and the future threat to social security. The key for Republicans is to play up the culture wars and they will point to an activist court as proof of that. But it will not work this time. Instead we will see a repeat of 1992 when the elder Bush will go down even as the economy is improving. Iraq will not be stable soon and the government will have to find a way to get out of there fast. All these will not be lost on voters come November.
