A Political Power Play?

There is no doubt that Republicans will once again use national security as their top campaign issue, effectively scaring voters into voting for their candidates. In fact, earlier this month the President took advantage of the 9/11 anniversary to hit the airwaves and issue a 17-minute address to the country. The primetime speech put to a close a week-long offensive by the White House to build support for the War on Terror/War on Iraq. Some Democrats may be hesitant to use national security as a campaign selling point when the latest Gallup poll bares a 39-point spread in favor of Republicans when voters are asked who is better able to handle the issue . However, if there is anything we can learn from Karl Rove it is that effective campaigning means attacking the opposition strong-holds. Republicans used this strategy in 2002 to attack Democrat’s position on the economy. Voters have long trusted Democrats to handle the economy better than Republicans, but Republicans were able to turn that around by attacking Democrats’ position on tax cuts and the estate tax. In the beginning of 2002, while the country was in the midst of a recession, Republicans were chosen as the party better able to handle the economy by nine-points in an ABC News poll. President George Bush even received a 62% approval rating on the economy, during a recession!

Republicans have been effective in using this issue to attract a large portion of the electorate, to narrow the gender gap, and effectively shut Democrats out of every branch of government. Republicans, to their credit, have been successful in painting Democrats as Osama loving, Hollywood liberals. At the same time, Republicans have done more to damage homeland security than to help it. In March of 2006 Republicans defeated Rep. Sabo’s (D) Amendment (Amdt 733) that would have increased funding for the Department of Homeland Security by $1.225 billion . The money would have provided $300 million to fund the inspection of high risk containers at all 140 overseas ports and an additional $400 million to place radiation monitors at all U.S. ports of entry. In fact, next year’s budget has cut overall national homeland security funding by 37% meaning that “almost every state will face cuts in homeland security funding – many of them severe.

Republicans may hold the lead on terrorism in a generic poll, but it is only because Republicans have better defined Democrat’s position than Democrats. Let us not forget the number one rule in politics, “Define your opponent before they define you.” There are seven weeks remaining and it is important that Democrats define Republicans as the party unable to handle homeland security.