reaction to the swift-vote vets "controversy" is a serious mistake. It illustrates either a) the Kerry campaign is out of its league, b) the Kerry camp, probably from on high, is arrogant and out of touch, or possibly both a) and b).
By drawing all of this attention to the ads, Kerry dignifies them. Significant portions of the American public do not trust the media, so the big media reaction to the problem is likely to make many voters feel that there "must be something to it all." The "liar, liar pants on fire" thing just doesn't wash.
Kerry's attack on the ads as a violation of the campaign rules is a serious mistake that is probably the turning point in this campaign. Kerry invites scrutiny of his campaign's ties to the anti-Bush groups and 527's, particularly to Michael Moore and George Soros. Kerry also doesn't address the substance of the ads directly. He tries to deflect attention away. This "problem" has thrown his campaign seriously off message and forced him to spend valuable time and resources dealing with it. Kerry should have ignored it and stayed on message. Bad move. Very bad move. Remember how the National Guard thing threw Bush off message...same thing here.
I didn't think the implosion would begin this early, but it has. Kerry has been flanked like Pope at second Manasses and Hooker at Chancellorsville. The results will probably be as devastating. Sun tsu is looking down with awe.
