IMHO, I think it caused more pain for Bush than Kerry.
ABC ade it look like a dirty trick from TEXAS GOPers connected to Rove--"who also screwed McCain in SC." Then they found a liberal GOPer in CA to say that a fella who'd been shot at would be less like to rush to War-- dig at Bush on Iraq.
Then they showed more pro-Kerry vets than anti-Kerry vets. Then they had a lopsided final panel. Halberstam was given much more time, and he hit BC04 on Iraq and for not going to NAM.
All in all, it was really disgraceful!!
That IS the Dem spin on all this. That the Swiftboat Vets are a GOP dirty trick.