Are you over-familiar with Brown?

The Speccie (signup required) is essential reading this week. There is an excellent article by Frank Luntz on the difference between Brown and Cameron and a comparison between American and British politics. Brown’s problem, it seems, is his “over-familiarity”; the public trust him but don’t like him. Luntz says:

“Incredibly, Mr Cameron, a relative novice, is defining the words and themes that the Chancellor uses and, by extension, his political agenda. And it shows. That is why — as my research has consistently demonstrated — the British people aren’t buying into the new, ‘cuddly’ Mr Brown, the one who listens to the Arctic Monkeys in the morning before heading off to a photo op at a nursery school. They know it’s not the real him.”

According to Luntz, Brown needs to learn the new lexicon of politics…looks like there’ll be a rush on his book this week.

Hat tip: Guido Fawkes 

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Brown needs to expand like Cameron

This article highlights some of the bridges Brown needs to build if he’s to succeed in power. The Tories are expanding their appeal with attempts to recruit Lib Dem and Labour MPs (none have been successful yet!). This presents a clear danger to Brown’s chance of winning the next election, especially if we are to believe the predictions of a hung parliament and a possible Lib-Con coalition. Some kind of renewed offensive on that is needed.

But Brown also needs to to make peace with some of his biggest enemies. According to Peter Oborne, “nine months ago, Mandelson confided to friends his astonishment that the Chancellor had not spoken a single word to him in the two years since he had become Trade Commissioner.” This might be difficult for him given their history, but Brown certainly could do with some support in Europe. He can’t have Cameron outdoing him in Europe can he.

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