[schu]

I agree, Kerry's and the left's position on Iraq is unpalatable to the majority of the electorate. The "peacenik", "give peace a chance", pacifist approach just does not play in America, especially with women, and especially after Beslan. Kerry has a huge fundamental problem, and it will be there on the debates for all to see.

[nathanbedford]

Kerry's task is to win undecideds. He must assume he has the base. That they have e decoded his recent statements and concluded he intends to cut and run. That means he must be strongly for winning the war against TERRORISM and adamant that he has never wavered on Iraq, that it has Bush who has waffled.He must contend that every asset deployed in Iraq brings an attack on the homeland closer.

If I were Kerry (and that assumes I would be just as unprincipled) I would make predictions of increased carnage in Iraq and leave it to the terrorists to vindicate me. He has a pretty good chance they will and an excellent chance they will try. Whatever they do, Kerry and I can rely on the press to magnify it. Then I would spend the next few weeks saying "I told you so" every time a bomb goes off.

I do not think he can do it. Clinton at his best might have been able to sell this package but it would have been a strain even for him. But then Slick would never have let himself be boxed into this position.