2004: Bush vs. Kerry, No 9/11

[dwkulcsar]

I fight the premise that if 9/11 did not happen; Kerry would not be the Democrats choice. Bush's war on terror in a way distracted the economic situation. I don't think the economy would be much different, and a populist outcry over the effects of the tax-cuts would have seen a populist like Howard Dean or John Edwards become viable candidates for the general election.

Now without 9/11. I would predict that a populist candidate that could have framed the ever changing economy as being a bad thing for middle wage earners. Say, Howard Dean talks about his record as Governor and tells Ohioans about how globalization and rich tax cuts are bad for them.

This is assuming Dean is the Nominee. Kerry would have trouble showing his credentials as someone who did much. He is known for three things, being a Veteran, Senator, and rich. In a peacetime election his military service may not have been an actor in the decisions of voters, and his possible elitism would have been just as large a factor as it was in the real 2004 election.