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Inside Politics
Inside Politics

Political plays of the year

By Bill Schneider
CNN Political Unit

Thune and Obama
Play number five: The Senate class of '04 produces two rising stars: John Thune and Barack Obama.
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George W. Bush
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- What would New Year's Eve be without party favors?

So before auld acquaintance is forgot, we're going to bring to mind the top political plays of 2004 -- with favors for both parties.

Play number five: The Senate class of '04 produces two rising stars.

One GOP victory was especially sweet -- South Dakota, where Rep. John Thune knocked off Democratic leader Tom Daschle.

"We prayed a lot about it as did a lot of other people and finally concluded that this was something that we needed to do," Thune said.

Did the Democrats produce a star? They sure did.

"The hope of a skinny kid with a funny name who believes that America has a place for him, too," said Barack Obama in his speech at the Democratic National Convention on July 27.

Obama won a stunning 43-point victory after wowing Democrats with his spellbinding oratory at the Boston convention.

Play number four: Two filmmakers turn the nation's red-blue division into box office gold.

Many moviegoers in red America were deeply moved by Mel Gibson's, "The Passion of the Christ.''

One moviegoer in Plano, Texas, said, "It was stunning, stunning ... It's the most awesome thing I've ever seen."

In blue America, Gibson's film was denounced as prejudiced and inflammatory.

"Millions of people will see this passion play and believe that it is the truth when, in fact, it is Mr. Gibson's version," said Rabbi James Rubin, of the American Jewish Committee.

A few months later, Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 911'' rallied anti-Bush voters.

"You're fighting for the majority, the majority that never elected this man to office," Moore said.

Moore's film drew an angry response from the right.

"Fahrenheit" did very well at the box office -- especially for a documentary.

But the box office revenues for "Passion'' were three times as big, which is very impressive for a movie where the dialogue is in Aramaic.

Play number three: A non-partisan commission shows political clout.

The 9/11 commission included a lot of former politicians. They knew how to be politically effective.

Public hearings with dramatic testimony from insiders, like former weapons inspector David Kay and former White House counter-terrorism chief Richard Clarke.

It also produced a best-selling report written in such a compelling, readable style that it was nominated for a National Book Award.

The 9/11 commission turned its report into a cause. They demanded action.

"Look, we want a bill on the desk of the president as soon as possible," said Lee Hamilton, former vice chairman of the 9/11 commission.

They got it.

Most commissions have expertise. The 9/11 commission had the political skill needed to break through the logjam of interests that resisted reform.

Play number two: John Kerry rewrites the playbook for winning the nomination.

Last December, Kerry was sinking in New Hampshire. The playbook says New Hampshire voters don't care what happens in Iowa.

Nonsense, Kerry said.

He pulled up stakes and went to Iowa. It was an all-or-nothing gamble that the way to win New Hampshire was to first win Iowa.

It worked. Kerry won Iowa on January 19.

"Thank you, Iowa, for making me the comeback Kerry," exclaimed Kerry.

Eight days later, New Hampshire fell into place. And Kerry was on his way.

Play number one: President Bush runs a campaign with relentless focus.

The key to Bush's re-election was the president's image of firmness and resolve, in contrast to his opponent's image of vacillation and inconsistency.

President Bush lost no time drawing a contrast. One day after Super Tuesday when John Kerry clinched the Democratic nomination, Bush made his move.

On March 3 in Los Angeles, Bush said, "Senator Kerry has been in Washington long enough to take both sides on just about every issue."

Kerry provided Bush with ammunition two weeks later at a West Virginia town hall, which instantly made its way into a Bush campaign ad, "I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it."

The "flip flop'' charge reverberated through the Republican campaign for the next eight months right through Bush's final campaign rally in Texas with Bush saying, "And then he [Kerry] entered the flip-flop hall of fame."

President Bush showcased his strength and his opponent's weakness by sticking to one message relentlessly.

2004 was a year when a lot of conventional wisdom got turned on its head. Like, "Iowa doesn't matter,'' and "High turnout helps Democrats.''

Let's hope 2005 is just as interesting. Happy New Year!


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