[Oeconomicus]

Now, in the wake of a month of harsh attacks on Mr. Kerry's character, military record and antiwar activity by the group called Swift Boat Veterans for Truth and the White House itself, . . . Polls show that the attacks apparently succeeded in raising doubts about Mr. Kerry, and undermining his campaign's central biographical rationale, just when many voters were first tuning in to the race. Some old colleagues worry that irreparable damage has already been done.

A bitter pill for readers of the Times to swallow.