Russert and Biden are attempting to explain away Kerry and Edwards' vote against funding the troops. The truth of the matter is that it was a crass politcal maneuver to garner votes from the lunacrat left. In other words, he did it for the worst possible reason and it is inexcusable. Even Biden, who voted for the funding, understands that.
There is no explaining away the vote, so said John Kerry in that infamous Face the Nation clip where he explains no one would be so irresponsible as to vote against it, which he then did !
LOL . This one will come back to bite him in the ass via in W's commercials.
Kerry voted against the money for the troops because Dean was getting all the attention with his anti war rhetoric.