CORRECTED: Republicans Stage More Effective Convention-Experts

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CORRECTED: Republicans Stage More Effective Convention-Experts
Thu Sep 2, 2004 09:14 PM ET

(Deletes reference to Monday in 12th paragraph because Schwarzenegger spoke on Tuesday.)
By Mark Egan

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Republicans staged a more effective convention than Democrats because they portrayed President Bush as a strong leader and combined that theme with effective attacks on his Democratic rival, experts said on Thursday.

While both the Republicans and Democrats achieved their goals during their respective conventions, the Democrats focused on introducing Sen. John Kerry to the nation and convincing people he could be commander-in-chief. The Republicans set their sights much higher.

"The Republicans have done a much more proficient job of packaging the whole affair and making sure the message is salable, commercial and riveting," said Michael Wolff, media critic at Vanity Fair magazine.

Wolff said July's Democratic convention in Boston was "more risk-averse, cautious and even conservative."

http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=6140657