I assumed Kerry's involvement in VVAW was a move for headlines and a platform for public life. He seems like too much of an opportunist to be involved in such an underhanded plot like assasination which would surely (and if true, hopefully) would come back to haunt him.
We shouldn't be surprised at the shameful way Wellstone's death was exploited. After Carnahan's death we saw the same thing. Not in the form of a 'memorial service' but the same sympathy angle was played to get his widow a seat. "Still with Mel" was the slogan I believe.
"...only about one-fifth of Americans believe it's very likely that a woman president will be elected in their lifetime..."
That should have asked would you vote for a female president. That is a different matter entirely. This survey asked people what they thought other citizens would do.