Obama picks John Kerry to play Romney in mock debate rehearsals

[Inuca]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-picks-john-kerry-to-play-romney-in-mock-debate-rehearsals/2012/06/18/gJQABEctlV_story.html

Kerry will help Obama prepare for among the most consequential events of his reelection campaign — the three fall debates against Romney. As the senior senator from Massachusetts, Kerry has studied Romney’s career and campaign style for nearly two decades and has first-hand knowledge of his record as governor.

Kerry has long been considered one of the Democratic Party’s most skilled debaters, and his performances in more than 25 debates in the 2004 race earned plaudits. Some credited his strong debates against President George W. Bush with tightening the race in the closing weeks of the 2004 campaign.

It is his perspective on Romney, though, that could be especially valuable for Obama. Kerry was a key surrogate on behalf of the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) when he defeated Romney in 1994. And Kerry closely observed Romney’s successful 2002 gubernatorial campaign, where his performance in debates against Democrat Shannon O’Brien were believed to have helped him win.

“There is no one that has more experience or understanding of the presidential debate process than John Kerry,” said David Axelrod, Obama’s chief strategist. “He’s an expert debater who has a fundamental mastery of a wide range of issues, including Mitt Romney’s Massachusetts. He’s the obvious choice.”

[Noisy Democrat]

1. Excellent choice! n/t

[emulatorloo]

2. Fantastic choice! n/t

[MBS]

3. I just heard this on Hardball

Wonderful!

[politicasista]

4. Good choice

Why some take issue with Team Obama's pick IDK.

[Mass]

5. Some people dont get how debates work, that is all.

Kerry is a logical choice, as somebody from MA, who knows Romney and has worked with him, has been through debates and done well there. He is also somebody with a background similar to Romney, and a good debater. The role of the mock debater is to emulate Romney, not to be a political choice.

It seems to be an excellent choice.

[politicasista]

6. No dispute here/there

It is an excellent choice.

[YvonneCa]

7. Wonderful choice! n/t

[Luftmensch067]

8. I agree JK is the perfect choice for this...

...but man do I wish I could be a fly on the wall during those sessions!

[Inuca]

11. Double your

[ThoughtCriminal]

9. Have to wonder who Romney's sparing partner will be

It can be rather funny when Republicans try to pretend to be Democrats - all that projection will have "pretend Obama" quoting Marx and Lenin.

And if they pick Herman Cain, you know they were only looking at one similarity.

[MBS]

10. the Boston Globe story

http://www.boston.com/politicalintelligence/2012/06/18/john-kerry-play-role-mitt-romney-for-president-obama-debate-prep/LpzMa3Q2eTyFVKVFQILtNN/story.html

with photo of Kerry and Obama at the 2004 Dem Natl Convention: