Kerry's campaign decline is very disheartening.... [View All]

[vi5]

I'm an undecided voter at this point. But for a long time I thought Kerry was going to be our best shot, even if I wasn't ready to put my support behind him just yet.. And a lot of my independent swing voting family and friends thought the exact same thing. On paper he has an unbeatable record (and as far as swing voters go I am including his IWR vote on there, despite what I personally may think of it). In fact among the entire field he was easily the most "presidential" IMHO. But watching how his campaign has fallen victim to incompetent handlers, and how now those same handlers are jumping ship and betraying him for firing Jordan and trying to get some semblance of control over his campaign is sad to see.

I'd like to see him turn things around even if he doesn't outright win, because I like the guy and what he stands for. But watching him this primary campaign has brought back some unsettling feelings like the ones I got watching Gore campaign in 2000. Pandering to the press, making every move seem calculated, and playing follow up by being 2 steps behind the media rather than 2 steps ahead.

Again, I'm hoping he can turn it around because it's sad for me to see someone who has done so much and been through so much go down like this, but I wish I could say it was someone else's fault. But like with Gore, the decision to listen to or not listen to one's handlers and staff ultimately falls with the candidate himself.

I'm sure this will get flaming from some Kerry supporters and even worse gloating from Dean supporters, so fire away.