Compare And Contrast

President Bush in Pennsylvania yesterday:

“Zell Miller of Georgia, he’s a discerning Democrat,” Mr. Bush told a rally in Moosic, Pa., his first stop after accepting the party’s nomination Thursday. The audience of 8,000 exploded in cheers.

The reaction was even more dramatic at the president’s next stop here, where the crowd of 20,000 made more noise than any other gathering the president has addressed during the campaign. One of those cheering the loudest was Brian Lunde, national co-chairman of Democrats for Bush.

“You know, Brian and Zell Miller, they’re on to something,” Mr. Bush said. “There’s a lot of discerning Democrats who understand that four more years will make this country safer, stronger and better.

“And this campaign welcomes all Democrats and independents,” he added. “Our vision includes everybody. Our message is for every single citizen in this country.”

Flashback to Senator Kerry on the campaign trail back in March:

No, wait, wait, wait, wait you asked me if I’d met with any leaders. Yes. I have had conversations with leaders, yes, recently. That’s not your business, it’s mine. I’ve met with foreign leaders for any [inaudible] purpose–I never said that. What I said was that I have heard from people who are leaders elsewhere in the world who don’t appreciate the Bush administration approach and would love to see a change in the leadership of the United States. I’m talking our allies, I’m talking about people who were our friends nine months ago, I’m talking about people who ought to be at our side in Iraq and aren’t because this administration has pushed them away in its arrogance, that’s what I’m talking about. Are you a registered Republican? Are you a Republican? You answer the question. That’s not an answer. Did you vote for George Bush? Did you vote for George Bush? Thank you.

As James Taranto wrote at the time:

Apparently the man said he did indeed vote for Bush. Perhaps it hasn’t occurred to Kerry that if he is to win the presidency, he will have to persuade some Bush voters to support him instead. The only thing Kerry seems to stand for so far is hatred of Republicans, and that’s not going to be sufficient to win him the White House.

And as I wrote back then:

How many people who voted for Ike in ’56, or the first President Bush in ’88 did Kennedy and Clinton get to switch allegiances during their campaigns?

Remember the Reagan Democrats of the 1980s?

Kerry doesn’t.

But President Bush sure does.