Run Away, Run Away!

The newest game in Republican politics is to run away screaming from the President. The head of the National Republican Campaign Committee, Tom Reynolds, doesn't mention the word "Republican" on his own campaign website. Missouri Senator Jim Talent is similarly obscure, painting himself on his campaign site as some sort of third-party candidate (maybe he'll join the Connecticut for Lieberman party). And today, Clay Shaw, a Florida Republican Congressman in a tough battle with Ron Klein in a swing district, unfurled a campaign ad that might as well have been put together by Ned Lamont's team:

Shaw launched a new television ad in which he personally tries to rebuff suggestions that he's too closely aligned with the Bush administration -- particularly on matters relating to Social Security, a hot-button issue in a district with a large proportion of elderly residents.

"I don't think you can reform Social Security by dismantling the system. I have disagreed with the president on this particular matter," says Shaw in the ad.

Oh yeah, should I mention that he's lying about his opposition to Social Security privatization?

Shaw's ad aims to address this problem by displaying the slogan "no privatization" and other checklist words before Shaw reaffirms his individuality. "I represent the state of Florida, not a political party," he concludes.

Klein's campaign, though, was quick to take issue with Shaw's self-portrayal. "Shaw has a privatization plan. There's no way to get around it," Klein campaign manager Brian Smoot told CQPolitics.com Thursday. "To think that this is the issue he's choosing to distance himself from the president on pushes the boundaries of common sense and credibility."

What it does is show you just how unpopular the privatization scheme is to voters. Which is why Democrats ought to use it like a battering ram in the fall.

Maybe it's the 33% approval ratings, which aren't likely to rebound, but I think Bush-bashing is going to become the national pastime in election ads... mainly in Republican election ads.