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did it look like the crowd was interacting physically in any measure that is close to the way crowds interact with W?

No, the crowd wasn't anything like the crowds around W. They were mainly standing there with just a few hands even reaching for him to shake hands. It was very low key. Much smaller crowd from what I saw than anything W ever gets.

I was surprised to see that it was a "rally", it looked like maybe a speech to a small group.

Kerry kept doing that retarded looking fist in the air thing, but he was the only one that seemed wound up. It didn't match the demeanor of the crowd in my opinion. He looked silly to me. For no real reason (that I could see) he just kept pumping that fist in the air.

As far as the Secret Service guys, Kerry definitely didn't need the same degree of vigilance because of the very controlled crowd, but you know how the President's guys LOOK concerned all the time and how they are always watching the crowd very closely?

Well, the agent with Kerry was pinching a little bit of Kerry's shirt, not even touching Kerry's body. He wasn't even grabbing it with his entire hand. Just a few fingers. Plus he was looking off in the distance a couple of times. Just briefly, but he did do it. Then, Kerry went up on the stage to leave and the agents were not right with him. In fact, I didn't see them at all.

I know those guys are very professional and they wouldn't do anything to put Kerry at risk. Never.

But President Bush's detail looks like they truly have a personal affection for him, even noticeable in their extreme diligence and facial expressions. Kerry's detail looked bored to me.

That was my impression of it anyway.

You could be a reporter, with that eye for detail. Wow. Excellent feedback.

I do know what you mean about Bush's SS guys looking ... well, almost worried when they've got to protect him in those big crowds. They are as serious as a heart attack about keeping him alive and unhurt. I think any sitting president gets a truckload of death threats, while a contender probably gets a lot fewer. Track record-wise, I don't recall any contender whose life was attempted during a campaign, but there certainly have been too many attempts, and successful efforts, on the lives of sitting presidents. God bless all candidates to be safe.