You're exactly right!
In addition to giving the GOP yet another talking point, Kerry also managed to suck every molecule of oxygen away from Dem spinners the week before the election. Now, instead of being free to bash Bush and the pubbies, they will have to yell for days that Kerry was misquoted, this is mean GOP tactics, etc., etc. - and all their talking points they saved up for the last few days might as well get flushed down the crapper.