I don’t think veteran status counts for much since the election of BJ Clinton, but in 2004 we were already in two wars and it may have meant something. I can only guess as to why Kerry was selected; he was as bad as McCain as a candidate.
Awful, certainly, the man was terrible and boring as a debater. About every third or fourth sentence he deferred to his campaign website. Really, that sounds fake? What does the guy really feel like saying on the spot?