I'm sad.
John Kerry will not win the Presidency unless he opposes President Bush on the Iraq War. It will not be enough to say that Bush mismanaged it. True, but insufficient.
Kerry may have lost this race already. Even if he has time, he may be unable to make the flip-flop required because he supported the war. As I see it, however, his only chance is to argue that Bush is a weak leader, that his war on Iraq distracted from and subverted the war on the terrorists who perpetrated 9/11/01. Which is, in fact, the case.
Of course, he needs to hit domestic themes, too - simply and strongly. But the issue in this election is Bush's leadership. If Kerry cannot persuade more Americans that Bush has misled, he will lose.
I cannot think of sadder news for the country.