I grew up in Massachusetts and have a pretty good understanding of John Kerry. Where Ted Kennedy is loved in Massachusetts' liberal Democratic circles, Kerry is respected (but not really loved). Kerry's no knee-jerk liberal, he really is a centrist and he really is a war hero. Also smart as anyone in the senate. Sure, the Republicans will try to paint him as a typical Massachusetts liberal (whatever THAT is as the state's last 4 governors have been Republican). I hope they try to paint him as a peacenik because he has strong ties to veterans groups throughout the country who are just itching to go to bat for him. In my opinion, he is clearly the class of the Democratic field and in a fair and just world he'd clean Dubya's clock but remember, we are dealing with the American electorate (an unimpressive bunch to say the least).

Peter T.