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Article: Loss Leader; At 0-7, Adviser Bob Shrum Is Well Acquainted With the Concession Speech
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- September 10, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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Each day at the Democratic convention in Boston, a team of 10
speechwriters would convene in a windowless office behind the Fleet
Center podium to help compose and polish that night's speeches. In
the spirit of camaraderie, the speechwriters discussed making T-
shirts for themselves.
One suggested a design featuring the slogan "Reverse the Curse"
over a picture of Bob Shrum, the Democratic strategist whom many
perceived to be presidential candidate John Kerry's closest adviser.
"The Curse" referred to Shrum's career-long slump in presidential
campaigns, a well-catalogued losing streak that runs from George
McGovern to Al Gore.
The shirts were never made, for fear of offending Shrum. But the ...