I'm Pete du Pont with the National Center for Policy Analysis. Did you see the polls suggesting either Bush or McCain would beat either Gore or Bradley? Here's why that might be the case.
First, a caveat: it's February, and lots can change. Ask President Muskie, President Hart, or, for that matter, President du Pont. But suppose the polls are accurate?
Gore's easy. Competing against Bradley this isn't much of a factor, but if he goes against a Republican in the fall he'll be dragging a lot of baggage: an 800-pound anchor named Bill Clinton and ethical questions about Buddest temple fundraising, etc. Also a smaller anchor named Hillary. If her New York Senate run is as annoying as it seems, it could hurt Gore.
Bradley's easy in a different way, partly because he's a stand-up guy. The problem is, he's a stand-up guy for old-fashioned liberal democrat policies that make even democrat party pragmatists nervous. He's running so far to the left of Gore he will have trouble getting back.
So while it may be a vote-against, not a vote-for, proposition, early on it looks like the Republicans have the edge.
Those are my ideas, and at the NCPA we know ideas can change the world. I'm Pete du Pont. Next time, the new Clinton budget.