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A presidential campaign lexicon
28/10/2004 12:13 - (SA)
Washington - From Nascar dads to flip-floppers, the 2004 US presidential election has thrown up the usual number of buzzwords to confuse the uninitiated.
The following is a selected glossary of terms that have helped define the race for the White House between President George W Bush and his Democratic challenger John Kerry.
Nascar dads: Lower-middle class, rural white fathers who like watching racing cars going round in circles at dangerous speeds. Identified by political pundits as a key voter demographic that should be Democrat but leans towards Bush on security and values issues.
Security moms: Another targeted swing demographic made up of white married mothers worried about terrorism and security issues. Close relations of the "soccer moms" of the 2000 election, but newly incarnated after the September 11, 2001 terror attacks.
Battle Ground States: Apparently prime breeding ground of Nascar Dads and Security Moms. A dozen US states that could go either way on November 2nd and include electoral vote heavyweights Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida. Also known as "purple states" reflecting mix of Republican red and Democrat blue.
Flip-flop: Versatile derogatory term - can be verb, adjective or noun ("flip-flopper") - used by Bush camp to portray Kerry as inconsistent and indecisive. Widely embraced by Republican supporters who delight in hanging flip-flop sandals from trees and telephone poles around Kerry rallies.
French: Less a nationality than a term of general abuse, adopted in the wake of stiff French opposition to the US-led invasion of Iraq. Hugely adaptable in usage, carrying overtones of cowardice, hypocrisy, pseudo-intellectualism and betrayal. Kerry's fluency in the language sometimes cited by Republicans as evidence of general untrustworthiness.
Clintonistas: Advisers of former president Bill Clinton called in to lend some teeth to Kerry campaign. Favoured by Bush supporters over more neutral-sounding "Clintonites" because of evocation of revolutionary Latin leftists.
Blogosphere: Cyberhome to internet political diarists, or "bloggers," who came of age with 2004 campaign. Generally as partisan as they are popular. Played key role in challenging documents used in CBS report that questioned Bush's Vietnam-era military service.
Weapon of mass distraction: Something that distracts large numbers of people from thinking about important issues.
9/11: Shorthand for September 11, 2001 attacks. Defining moment of Bush presidency, trigger for war on terror and symbolic shadow over 2004 election. Invoked by both Bush and Kerry, though with degree of caution to avoid charge of exploiting tragedy for political gain.
527s: Private political campaign groups used to circumvent federal caps on party campaign funding. Nominally non-affiliated but deeply partisan. Responsible for most aggressive TV attack ads on both sides.
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