If the Bush Campaign would have gotten behind, or at least stopped 'denouncing' the Swiftboat Vets, the could have probably added 5% at the Polls.
These guys had a lot to say, and should have had a bigger audience. In a real world, Lawrence O'donnell would be forever banned from public life for his ridiculous and childish attack on John O'Neill
This is true but in the final analysis, I have no doubt the Swiftvets put the nail in his coffin.
As a Nam vet and contributor to the Swiftvets, I take pride in that fact.
Kerry lost completely on his own merits. The problem with the Swifters is that in questioning JFK, they were also calling into question the service of all the men on those boats during the particular operation in question. That wouldn't have made Bush look good, no matter what the real story was. And the temptation to question anybody's military service in the future will be too great - I'm uncomfortable going down that road (that tactic backfired somewhat with Paul Hackett).