[Spotsy]

If anything, I see Kerry as the original dream candidate of the Bush team. Dean was just a head fake and the media and the Dems bought it.

I don't know if this is wishful thinking on my part, (perhaps those dems are influencing my thoughts, causing me to ascribe wondrous powers to Rove and company), but I too believe that the White House is relishing a race with Kerry.

I'm one of those who believe this White House is full of poker players - of course they have to pay lip service to the line "this election is going to be close . . . " - so as not to appear arrogant or risk having people stay home because they think it is a sure thing.

[optimistically_conservative]

By this summer Kerry will be down in the national polls by 10%.

By the fall, Bush's re-election will be compared to Reagan's and the media will make distorted historical references to how Bush beat the run of popular vote losing one termers.