How Does Kerry Stack Up Against Bush?

By
Analysis<br> By Peter Jennings
January 7, 2006, 11:21 AM ET
1 min read

March 3, 2004 -- Following his success in the primaries, Sen. John Kerry is the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate who will face President Bush in the November 2004 election.

So how does the Massachusetts senator's candidacy stack up?

Kerry's Advantages

The Democratic Party is united and determined to beat President Bush.

Kerry has few of the political scars or character questions that have dogged other nominees.

Some of the usual swing states may be unusually receptive to Kerry because they have suffered job losses.

Kerry has a distinguished war record, while his opponent did not see combat.

Kerry's Disadvantages

Kerry still struggles to connect with voters.

He has not yet made inroads into the "red states" that Bush won easily four years ago.

President Bush has raised so much cash that Kerry will have to spend a lot of his time fund-raisng.

Kerry has a long record of votes in Congress that Republicans will try to mine for political gain.

ABCNEWS' Mark Halperin contributed to this report.