In 2001 Mark Penn used the theme that Gore lost because he was not centrist enough and that he played to the populist base near the end.
Penn analyzes Gore's loss in a 2001 post at the DLC websiteInstead of running as a New Economy Democrat, Al Gore used an old-style populism that reduced his appeal rather than expanded it. The message prevented him from reaching the swing voters who could have pushed him over the top. Gore narrowly won the popular vote with this message by piling up large wins in states like California, where extra votes fail to count. But the message sent him tumbling backward in key border states, in his home state and, finally, in the electoral college. Liberal positions on social issues along with populism and big government positions took what could have been a substantial win and turned it into a draw. Had Gore combined his positions of conscience on social issues with a new vision of the role of government, he would have carried a larger percentage of upwardly mobile, socially tolerant suburban men that would have helped him win.
500,000 votes is hardly a narrow win. And there Penn goes with the put down of populism...a favorite taunt from that group. Oh, and what new role of government, Mr. Penn?
This next paragraph is pretty outrageous from the man who is leading the frontrunner's careful cautious campaign. It is shocking in fact.
Now the tables are turned, and it is Bush who must reach out to Gore's voters to build a new coalition of support or he will fail in governing. Bush must now put together a coalition greater than the 48 percent he received. The voters Bush needs to reach are the DLC Democrats -- concerned about the size of government, but firmly committed to progress on major issues like health care, education, family, and crime. They want government that will give people the tools they need to succeed in the 21st century. They are looking for a president and Congress that will continue the job started by President Clinton.
He so badly misjudged Bush's capability to reach out to anyone at all.
Mark Penn also earlier this year delivered a real slapdown to Gore and Kerry. He went after the other candidates but these seemed to be his targets. The article is archived, but I have enough of it posted in this journal to show his attitude toward both men.
Hillary's pollster, Mark Penn, suggests Kerry and Gore not runHe then set his sights on Sen. John Kerry and former Vice President Al Gore, who also might run in 2008. "The last two Democratic presidential candidates started out with high favorable ratings and ended up on Election Day - and today - far more polarizing and disliked nationally," said the pollster, who cut his teeth on President Bill Clinton's 1996 re-election campaign.
Outrageous statements.
And one more from the DLC post by Penn. He just misinterprets stuff and tosses it out as truth. He was speaking of Bush and Gore.
Both candidates failed to occupy the decisive center of the American electorate. This is not surprising given the failure of either candidate to break 50 percent.
Voters see Gore as substantially left of center and Bush as right of center. By running as a social and big government liberal, Gore was perceived as being to the left of the Democratic Party. In contrast, Bush was viewed as being more to the center than the Republican Party; that was perhaps the single most important element of his success.Penn on Gore's lossAnd we wonder why the candidate he works for is running to the right. The stance she took on Iraq this week really bothers me. Yet it is in character if she follows Penn's advice.
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