[diamond6]

"Moments before the pundits were instantly hailing Kerry’s supposedly brilliant speech, more than half of the hard-core Democrats had vanished."

Don't mean to be Captain Obvious, but won't these same voters still vote for Kerry, despite the fact that they left during his speech? All that matters to them is Bush getting kicked out.

[hobson]

Don't mean to be Captain Obvious, but won't these same voters still vote for Kerry, despite the fact that they left during his speech? All that matters to them is Bush getting kicked out.

I'm not so sure. I liken this election to 1996 when I could have sworn conservatives were mad enough to kick Clinton out, regardless of lackluster Dole.

When election day comes and it's raining, snowing or threre are errands to run, are they REALLY going to be motivated to vote for this dweeb? I don't think so. We will see.

[SamAdams76]

Don't mean to be Captain Obvious, but won't these same voters still vote for Kerry, despite the fact that they left during his speech? All that matters to them is Bush getting kicked out.

You are right about the Democrat Party faithful. With that crowd, it's "Anybody but Bush". (Just like for us it was "Anybody but Clinton".)

But there were many casual voters sitting at home, people who are neither Republican or Democrat, looking for a reason to vote for John Kerry. And many of them just didn't see it.