I agree completely, and in a fair world, Kirk's campaign would be crashing and burning right now.
Unfortunately he's got one big factor pulling for him that's designed to fulfill that goal of appealing to moderates. It's called the "mainstream" news media.
Kirk is their darling and he'll be known as a "moderate" in every ounce of press coverage he gets as long as he wants it. It could matter less who he affiliates himself with and what kind of anti-american radical nonsense he spews, because the media's decided that conflicts with the "moderate" image of Kirk they want to project.
Look at the coverage so far to see what I mean.
1. Kirk blows up at a rally and proposes dividing the military by income class and race. It's a one day story plus a second report that Kirk "regretted" what he said. The media hasn't touched it since.
2. Kirk's campaign is found to be employing a radical islamic activist with ties to John Walker Lindh. The story has appeared all over conservative publications for months, but how many "mainstream" sources have carried it? ONE. The Austin American Statesman in a small blurb about an email flap.
3. Kirk fundraises in California with a radical anti-military group and with Barbara Lee. The "mainstream" media carefulyneglects to mention that they're hosting his fundraisers and only says that Kirk's appearing at an event in San Francisco.
4. Kirk recieved tons of radical islamic cash. Again, right wing sources carry the story but not one regular newspaper. They don't hesitate for a second to mention Cornyn's donations years ago from Ken Lay in almost every single article they write about this race.
The double standard is simply apalling.
Any minor slip of the tongue in any speech was prominently covered as proof that Bush couldn't even talk. It was so patently biased that it was painful to read.
In spite of that, Bush carried Harris County, home of the nation's fourth largest city.