I think the Democrats have been rejoicing because going negative (a la Dean) closed the gap, so to speak. And they're orgasmic over this. But IMHO what they've also accomplished is - via their lies, lack of class and vicious personal attacks (enabled by our "objective" media) - to take a dispirited conservative/Republican base and fire it up. I don't know about you, but I'm ticked. Dubya ain't perfect, but I trust him - not Kerry/Fonda -to protect me and my family. I've already got my Bush/Cheney bumper sticker on the car. (Left over from 2000...ssshh!) And I'm just itching to actively participate in the campaign. Imagine, though: Going negative works. Kerry going negative has ONLY gotten him even....and Bush hasn't gone negative on Kerry yet, which WILL take him down a peg (or two, or five). Bush still has his quiver FULL of arrows.
MSNBC's poll today -- whatever it is -- has Bush ahead.