It’s too soon to make huge conclusions from this – but Bush is up in the Zogby poll. It may be, as I wrote after the debate, that Bush’s newfound charm outweighs Kerry’s forensic superiority. But the Kerry mo has been stopped, I’d say. And the Mary Cheney thing is a brilliant maneuver by the Republicans. Rove knows that most people do find mentioning someone’s daughter’s lesbianism to be distasteful and gratuitous. So he can work it to great effect, exploiting homophobia while claiming to be defending gays. Again: masterful jujitsu. I tip my hat to the guy. Poisonous, but effective.
EMAIL OF THE DAY: “As the former legislative director of the Christian Coalition, I find it hilarious, ironic and shameless that those who have long employed gay bashing as a political tool are feigning their outrage over Kerry’s sensitive notation of Cheney’s daughter’s sexual orientation. This is truly a moment of desperation for the Bushies. On the one hand they are sending out gay bashing mail and on the other hand they are sounding like charter members of the Human Rights Campaign. You’ve got to laugh!” – from Marshall Wittmann. Yes, I’m laughing, when I’m not crying.
The Dish 