So, What's Different?

With the economy going great guns, John Kerry has decided to focus his campaign on Iraq policy. However, even his own advisors can't distinguish between Kerry's policies and Bush's.

ABC's Dan Harris noted that Kerry offered "no new ideas" on Iraq today. Two people interviewed in an Ohio diner were hard-pressed to identify how Kerry differs with Bush on Iraq. Interview with Kerry foreign policy advisor Richard Holbrooke who said: "Setting an exit date would be a major mistake. It would unravel the situation and only harden the hard-liners." Kerry approach contrasted with Gore. Bush spokeswoman accuses Kerry of daily political calculations on the war on terrorism.

It seems that John Kerry's Iraq strategy is to focus on some bad news, then claim that it never would have happened had he been president.

NBC's Kelly O'Donnell, in the "In Depth" second-block piece, emphasized the "tight rope" that Kerry is walking between swing voters and his "anti-war base." Brokaw intro: spoke of Kerry's "difficult job" appearing aggressive on Iraq and setting himself apart from Bush. O'Donnell said that by seeking greater UN involvement and more international support, Bush has left Kerry with a "smaller point to make: simply that he could handle Iraq better." Interview with Tom Andrews of "Win Without War" calling for end of occupation by date certain.

CBS: Rather said Bush and Kerry "appeared to be using each other's campaign playbooks" with Bush talking health care reform in Nashville and Kerry starting a foreign-policy and war strategy push in Seattle. Rather said Kerry emphasized points he has made before. Kerry SOT: "They looked to force before exhausting diplomacy. They bullied when they should have persuaded. They have gone it alone when they should have assembled a team. They have hoped for the best when they should have prepared for the worst."