Kerry's long and difficult road ahead

For several months, the Democrats have been pounding relentlessly on President Bush. During the primary election season, the media gave full attention to all the criticisms and condemnations directed towards the president. But the Democrats have already chosen a candidate. Now it is time for W to strike back, and he is not losing any time.

Kerry may have won his party's nomination, but the coming eight months before the November election will prove to be far more difficult and exhausting than anything he has previously experienced. It will be a battle to the death, and yes, it will probably be one of the nastiest campaigns ever. If Karl Rove's smear tactics against John McCain in the 2000 South Carolina primary are any indication of the way the Bush team likes to play, we can definitely expect a vicious brawl against John Kerry.

John Kerry may be particularly vulnerable to Bush's attacks right now for one simple reason: Bush has lots of money and Kerry does not. Consider these numbers. The Bush campaign has $104 million available, while John Kerry can only dispose of $2 million. Bush has 52 times more cash than Kerry! That is an unbelievable advantage. Bush is going to flood the airwaves with campaign ads while Kerry struggles to raise enough money to stay competitive.

Bush is a fundraising phenomenon. He can easily raise more than a couple million bucks in a dinner party (at $2000 per plate). Kerry, on the other hand relies on small donations from lower income folks. If there is one lesson to be drawn from this war-chest disparity, it is that it pays to serve the political interests of the rich and powerful. Kerry's team expects to raise a little over 80 million from now until the Convention in Boston. But while they do that, the Bush team will be spending money lavishly.

All that money translates into T.V. ads, which unconsciously shape the perceptions of the average American voter. Some of his first ads show Bush walking proudly, with his chest pushed forward and a defiant look in his face - kind of like a tough sheriff making his way into an Old West saloon. But we are used to his swagger. What was much more disappointing and even disturbing was his use of images from September 11 for political purposes.

Bush has also set out to attack Kerry on his character and his record. Bush accuses Kerry of the two mortal sins in American politics -- to be a Northerner and to be a liberal. Never mind that George W was actually born and educated in New England. Never mind that W is not precisely a moderate in a position to criticize ideological extremes. Bush also accuses Kerry of being inconsistent with some issues. In contrast to Kerry's flip-flopping, Bush claims to offer "steady leadership." Perhaps it has been steady, but Kerry could easily suggest that it has been steadily bad leadership.

Some of Bush's attacks on Kerry are downright laughable, and in fact, backfire. The first of these was the suggestion that Kerry was owned by the special interests. You can not accuse a guy of being in cahoots with the special interests when you have received more money from special interests than anyone else in history -- especially when your single largest contributor is someone like Enron! Do not expect that argument to be made again any time soon.

Another ad paid for by the group Citizens United calls Kerry a "rich liberal elitist" -- it basically accuses Kerry of being rich. We all know Kerry is well off, but Bush is not exactly a man of the people either. Bush's family comes from the elite of this country and they are also very rich. There is nothing wrong with being rich. There is a lot wrong with being hypocritical.

The other day I heard the most cynical and ridiculous accusation yet. Bush told supporters that the country needed a fiscally conservative president. Kerry should remind people that the U.S. government is in red numbers right now thanks to George W's "fiscal conservatism." He might also add that the government will have record budget deficits as far as the eye can see. No one -- not even third world populist dictators -- should take lessons in fiscal conservatism from President Bush.

Poll after poll shows that this election is up for grabs. Kerry has more than a fighting chance to win this election. And as you can see, the arguments against him are mostly indefensible. But he needs to get his message out. That will be hard, especially since Bush has tens of millions of dollars to shape the debate and misrepresent Kerry and his positions. The Kerry campaign needs to raise more money and be clever. It will be a long and extremely difficult road ahead for the Senator, but it is a fight worth fighting.

Rodrigo De Haro is a senior majoring in International Relations. He can be reached at deharo@tuftsdaily.com.