[kcvl]

The risk for Kerry is that he will be seen as part of the Bush backlash -- a candidate whose chances rise with every bomb that explodes in Baghdad or Madrid. The more stridently he criticizes Bush, the more he's in danger of sounding like Spain's intemperate prime minister-elect, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. Not content with announcing that he will retreat under fire in Iraq, the Spaniard on Wednesday called the situation there a "fiasco" and said he hoped Kerry would win. Friends like that Kerry doesn't need.

Kerry's dilemma is like that facing his would-be European supporters. They desperately want Bush to lose, and they worry that by coming to his rescue in Iraq they could unintentionally boost his chances of reelection.

Kerry must reject that logic. His line should be that he wants success in Iraq and will do everything he can, as candidate and as president, to make it happen. He needs to make clear that failure isn't an option for him any more than for Bush -- and that a Kerry presidency would never embrace a Spanish-style policy of cut and run.

In that sense, Kerry needs to take Iraq off the table as an issue. His advisers may say that's crazy -- to throw away their biggest weapon against Bush. But that understates the gravity of this election. Kerry's best shot is that he would be a stronger, smarter leader in wartime. On Iraq, he should tell the truth: Now that we've gotten in, we have to stay and support the Iraqi people in rebuilding their country. Period.

[dawn53]

There was a statement made late yesterday, after he was endorsed by the anti-Semitic leader of Malaysia (I think).

Kerry made the statement that he was not accepting any foreign endorsements, and used Cheney's exact words from his interview on FoxNews about how Americans are the ones who elect American Presidents.

It was priceless, especially after his gaffe in Miami about foreign leaders being behind him.

[goldstategop]

Of course that puts him at odds with the Democratic base and foreign leaders who hate America for being steadfast. They can forgive him though if its a politically opportunistic move. I think they will since in his heart of hearts they know he agrees with them.

[HateBill]

Kerry's best shot is that he would be a stronger, smarter leader in wartime. On Iraq, he should tell the truth: Now that we've gotten in, we have to stay and support the Iraqi people in rebuilding their country. Period.

That would make sense if Kerry didn't get carried away by the "rapture" at campaign events. Some left-wing activist in a rope line will do some "male bonding" with Kerry by commenting on their common hatred for Bush and Kerry will try to "relate" by punching him on the shoulder and saying something like, "Yeah, Saddam was a prince compared to Bush" or ("Hitler was a prince compared to Bush").

What will kill Kerry is his uncontrollable desire to come across as a "guy's guy" in male company. And in his quest to prove his macho cred, he will say one stupid thing after another.