I think as long as Kerry stays out of sight and keeps his mouth shut, his numbers will stay up. In that way, Clinton IS helping him.
"But if she [Hillary] had to wait until 2012 and compete with Kerry's vice president, who knows what the outcome would be."
Morris is right about this; if another democrat other than Hillary Clinton should get elected and spend 8 years in the WH, by 2012, she wouldn't stand a chance of getting elected. The country would be sick of democrat policies by then and need a change.
You're absolutely right. As long as he keeps his mouth shut, he's "that other guy who isn't Bush." And that gives him the votes of the even vaguely grumpy.
But he can't stay invisible forever, of course. And once people get a good look at him, he's toast.