I don't think that Kerry had a change of heart, I think that his handlers got him back into control. The Swiftboat ads are not effecting the Kerry base, the Democrats don't care about this war hero routine, as a matter of fact, it was a turn off. They're probably happy to see it abandoned. The only ones that are being energized by the Swifties are the Republicans and Independents (if there really is such a thing), but that's good because we needed some energizing.
This whole speech has the Clintons' fingerprints all over it. Turn himself into a victim of the VRWC, and move on.
Possibility, Also wonder of one of his "band of brothers" has had a change of heart.....whatever we need to keep our collective eagle-eyes open.