Nasty Little Man

What do the people want? Stoic or passionate?

Political pundits are hard to follow at times, and, frankly, it seems they just repeat each other's assertions, leading to the "echo chamber" effect.

Today's Patriot News featured a cover story headlined, "Style key to winning Senate seat, analysts say." With echoes of John Kerry, circa 2004, the lede of the story was

Asked whether there is a "charisma gap" between Democrat Robert P. Casey Jr. and U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., offered an assessment that didn't exactly tout Casey as the most exciting of candidates.

"He is a low-key fellow," said Schumer, chairman of the Senate Democrats' campaign committee and one of the people who recruited Casey to challenge Santorum, R-Pa.

So this article was all about how Bob Casey, Jr.'s mellow personality could hurt him against the fiery Rick Santorum.

But then one turns to page A8 and finds this story: Voters Democratic wariness tempers mood for change. It includes this:

Voters like Jim Meyer are part of the reason one party is scuffling, yet the other not completely confident.

"I think we're in a lot of trouble," said the 59-year-old resident of Greenhills, Ohio, a Bush voter in 2004. His reasons: "Our commitment overseas, using our National Guard as much as we're using it, calling back our troops" to duty.

Still, he sized up the political alternative in less-than-glowing terms. "I think a lot of Democrats come across as crazies."

It's an impression Democrats are determined to negate and Republicans eager to reinforce in the 10 weeks from the traditional Labor Day campaign kickoff until Election Day.

Let's review. Casey might not be able to win because he's too mellow but people are unsure about the Democrats because they're "crazies." What gives? In PA, you have a candidate who is clearly not a crazy (going against a Senator, I might add, who is a polarizing bomb-thrower who couldn't keep his temper in check today on Meet the Press), but that Democratic candidate's style- stoic- could cost him votes. This is nuts. Is this real or is this the media's need to fill pages?

posted by Kinder Gentler Little Man @ 8:02 PM