2004 political presidential cartoons about Iowa primary precinct caucus and caucuses news, reports information on 2004 Democrat and Republican candidates, campaigns issues
"Kerry's Campaign is going this way"
John Kerry political cartoon.
… Just after Kerry spent days denying possibilities of a major campaign shakeup, his communications director exits. Headline from this morning’s Union Leader: “Communication director quits Kerry campaign” Report – excerpt – by the AP political warrior Ron Fournier: “John Kerry's communications director has resigned over differences in the direction of the Democrat's presidential campaign. Chris Lehane's departure comes amid speculation of a wider shake-up in the Kerry campaign, which has been torn by internal fights and a lack of public support from the candidate. Kerry, a Massachusetts senator once considered the leading contender in a nine-person field, has seen his campaign eclipsed by former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean. ‘John Kerry is a great American,’ Lehane said in a statement confirming his resignation. ‘He has assembled a great team to take on George W. Bush and I wish him the best of luck as the campaign goes forward.’ Lehane was a key adviser and spokesman for the campaign, though he was not on the payroll. That move was planned later this fall. He resigned last week. Campaign officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Lehane told them he was leaving over philosophical differences with Kerry. They said Lehane, who was Al Gore's press secretary in the 2000 race and worked for President Clinton, was among a cadre of Kerry aides who believed that Kerry ran too cautiously against the threat posed by Dean. Campaign strategist Bob Shrum and others urged Kerry to remain above the fray in an attempt to look presidential. Kerry avoided confrontation with Dean in the first two debates, but his rhetoric on the campaign trail has become more critical of the former governor. Dean leads Kerry in the latest polls in New Hampshire, an early voting state that neither candidate can afford to lose. His front-runner status lost, Kerry recently dropped out of contention for at least one key union endorsement and is scrambling to shore up support in Congress and among party donors. Though Kerry has insisted he's satisfied with his team, his less-than-firm denials of a shake-up have fueled rumors and created angst among his staff.”