By Ron Fournier, Associated Press, 07/29/00
PHILADELPHIA -- Al Gore is trying to slow George W. Bush's steady climb with constant critiques of the Republican presidential ticket, prompting some Democrats to worry that such negative tactics might backfire.
Gore allies say they're just trying to steal some of Bush's spotlight, an age-old counter-convention strategy. Indeed, the Democratic National Committee plans to air its first negative Bush ad next week, spending about $3.5 million in 17 states, Democratic Party sources said Saturday.
"You're always looking to throw the opposition off message, always looking to grab a news cycle or two. If you do that on one issue, it's worth your time," said Jim Ruvolo, former state party chairman in Ohio.
With that philosophy in mind, Gore and his political team accused Bush of mismanaging a Texas budget that is awash with surpluses.
They questioned his vice presidential selection process, though it yielded a candidate that has done the GOP ticket no obvious harm.
And they attacked Dick Cheney's conservative voting record in Congress, failing to mention similarities with Gore's own history.
The tactics put Cheney and Bush on the defensive this week, but even some Democrats wonder whether Gore is trying too hard. Relax, they say, the Democratic presidential convention opens Aug. 14 in Los Angeles -- and Gore will get his chance to shine.
"I think they ought to just ride this through. There's nothing much you can do so it's rather foolhardy to try too hard," said Democratic consultant Bill Carrick of Los Angeles.
"I find this spin about the process that Bush used to pick Cheney quite meaningless. What does it mean? You can disagree with Cheney and pick on his voting record -- that's fair game -- but I think in the end of the game the process is defined by the outcome," Carrick said.
Paul Blanchard, a political science professor and Democrat from Kentucky, said local party leaders are also making a tough case against Bush-Cheney.
"I sense that reflects some desperation," Blanchard said. The Gore people "seem to be thinking that this might be their only chance to make some effective shots at George W., but I don't think any of this is going to have an impact."
Kentucky is a battleground state won in 1992 and 1996 by President Clinton. Bush campaigned there Saturday, buoyed by polls showing him with an edge over Gore.
Surveys show Bush widening his lead heading into the convention here. Two polls give him a double-digit margin, though others show it closer.
Republicans and Democrats alike said they suspect that Bush benefited from the blanket coverage of his running mate search. They gave the Texan's campaign credit for keeping interest high with a series of leaks and signals.
Once the decision was made, Gore pounced.
The pick "reinforces in people certain things about George W. Bush -- that he's a lot more conservative than he's telling people, that he is beholden to the special interests of his own party and that his entire compassionate conservative campaign slogan is merely a hollow bromide," said spokesman Chris Lehane.
Backing up their point, Gore's team said:
- Bush oversaw a budget shortfall as Texas' governor. It's true that spending exceeded estimates in two programs, but even with the "shortfall" the Texas budget has a surplus of more than $1 billion.
- Cheney opposed abortion in Congress, and voted against federal funding of abortions even in cases of rape, incest or when a woman's life is in danger. True. It is also a fact that Gore's abortion views grew more liberal in the late 1980s as he sought public office.
According to the National Right to Life Committee, Gore and Cheney voted the same way 13 out of 14 times on abortion during their overlapped tenure in Congress.
- Cheney opposed gun controls, including bans on imports of plastic guns that could be smuggled past metal detectors. True. But it also is a fact that Gore received the highest rating possible from the National Rifle Association in the 1980s.
- Cheney supported high gas prices by urging OPEC to curtail its oil output. Gore aides backed up the charge with a 1999 Cheney quote: "I've been struck by the extent OPEC seems to have gotten its act together," Cheney said.
The Bush campaign said oil prices were low at the time and Cheney was talking up his energy business, Halliburton Co., to business types. To put the quote in context, the Texan's campaign found a comment by Energy Secretary Bill Richardson, a Gore ally, who said at the same time: "We feel that lower oil prices are good for consumers, but we recognize they can have a negative impact domestically on some of our friends like Venezuela and Mexico."
"They're grasping at straws," said Bush spokesman Dan Bartlett
Still, Democrats said it may be time to focus on Gore and his convention instead of Bush and his.
"They're scrambling to get in the news and that's understandable," Carrick said. "But they've got to realize the spotlight will get back to them."
