Thompson's position-taking

Dick Morris, the master of triangulation, had an interesting comment on Obama towards the end of last month. He wrote: "what Obama misses is the ability to use issues in a political campaign to win votes."

It's entirely possible to take all popular positions on issues for the constituency you're trying to appeal to and still lose. The problem comes when you alienate the people who are on the other side of the issue. Even though they are a minority, if they care enough about the issue and get ticked off that you oppose them, they won't vote or will vote against you. If all your positions command majority support, but the issue is more salient for those who hold the opposing view, and the opponents on the various issues are not all concentrated together, then even though you agree with them on other issues, you end up offending nearly everyone on their pet issue. It is therefore not good strategy to take majority positions on every issue that comes your way, especially without considering the positions of the other candidates. Being selective in who you offend, and going after voters who are offended by the positions of other candidates, is good strategy. Jay Cost had a great post on this in the summer, which I discussed here.

Pew had a survey out yesterday of Republican views and compared them to the positions that Fred Thompson is taking. Thompson seems to be following the take all popular positions model. This is not good strategy. Being all things to all Republican primary voters will not work in the end, unless you are a clear front-runner with only the wind in your face between you and the finish line. Thompson is not offering red meat to any Republican constituency, and this is a problem.