You ain’t seen nothin’ yet

Interesting note on today’s updated Rassmussen poll:

The debate didn't change many minds, but it had a measurable impact on voter perceptions of Bush and Kerry. Fifty-five percent (55%) of voters now believe that Senator Kerry is politically liberal. That's up six points from before the debate and the highest level of the year. The number viewing President Bush as politically conservative increased to 65%. That's similar to his numbers coming out of the Republican Convention.

Well hold onto your hats America, because the Bush team is going to focus like a laser beam on Kerry’s twenty-year Senate record, the one he never talks about. Why? Tell ‘em Byron York:

[Congressional Quarterly] found that in 2003, Kerry voted with Kennedy 93 percent of the time on roll-call votes in which both men were present. While that might seem like a lot, it was, historically, a rather low number for Kerry; who voted with Kennedy 100 percent of the time on key votes in 2001, 1999, 1998, 1993, 1992, 1989, 1988, 1987, 1986, and 1985, according to a Republican analysis of CQ's designated key votes from those years.

Robert Novak today notes: “Kerry can’t live down the scarlet “L” and Crush Kerry declares: “Third debate offers President the chance to put Kerry away for good.” And for more background on Kerry’s undistinguished and far-left Senate career, check out the RNC Research page.

My strong feeling is that the President should not cite the National Journal rankings (as he did in the second debate) to tag Kerry. Instead, compare Kerry's synonymous voting record with Kennedy and say things “A vote for Kerry is a vote for Ted Kennedy.” Or “Ted Kennedy is known as the “Liberal Lion” and John Kerry voted with him 93% of the time. America – draw your own conclusions.” It’s all “liberal” from here on out as the Bush campaign uses Kerry’s Senate career against him. And how.