Reply #4: Kerry has had more rw dirt thrown at him in his lifetime...

[Johnyawl]

...than Dean can even imagine. The mud slinging - and the media scrutiny - began for Kerry in 1972. Now I like Dean, and would vote for him if he could run a campaign well enough to win, but to proclaim that Kerry has not had the media scrutiny that Dean has is simply untrue.

The first repug to throw dirt at Kerry was Dick Nixon. While Dean has spent his political career in Vermont, happily co-existing with the local republicans, Kerry has had to endure the assaults from the Nixon, Reagan and Bush machines. He has had a couple of nasty fights for that Senate seat, and has proven himself a tough, tenacious campaigner. No one left in this campaign has had a political fight as tough as the one Kerry had against Weld in '96.

I acknowledge that there are many valid reasons for not having Kerry as your first choice; we all have to pick someone we feel best represents our believes, and desires. But the fact is, Kerry is best experienced of the remaining four to take on Carl Rove. And Dean will need the experience of beating a tough competitor like Kerry, if there's to be any hope of him beating bush & rove in the fall.