Kerry's Shift on Iraq: A Watershed Moment in the Presidential Election

As the Democratic nominee for president, John Kerry, prepares to face President George W. Bush in a pivotal presidential debate on Iraq, he has finally taken a clear stance on the war, marking a significant shift in the election. Kerry's change of heart comes after months of struggling to differentiate himself on the issue, which has dominated the campaign trail. In a bold move, Kerry has come out against the invasion, criticizing the Bush administration's handling of the war and charging that the president has lost credibility on the issue.

Key Takeaways:

• Kerry's shift on Iraq marks a watershed moment in the presidential election, as he finally takes a clear stance on the war.
• The Massachusetts senator has criticized the Bush administration's handling of the war, charging that the president has lost credibility on the issue.
• Kerry has put forward a four-point plan to improve Iraq, which revolves around increasing international support, a difficult task to achieve in a meaningful way.
• The Democratic challenger must now explain the evolution of his Iraq position during the presidential debate and why he is now clearly opposing a war he once voted to support.
• The shift on Iraq seems to have liberated Kerry, who has demonstrated conviction and incisiveness, moving beyond his earlier awkwardness on the issue.
• Republicans welcome the prospect of debating the war with Kerry, as the president's advantage on the issue has widened dramatically in recent months.
• The Newsweek poll found voters evenly divided on July 29 over which candidate they would prefer to handle Iraq, with the margin growing to 18 percentage points in Bush's favour two weeks later.

Statistics:

• Over the past three weeks, Kerry has begun to acknowledge the dominance of Iraq in this election amid mounting US casualties and a bloody insurgency that has commanded voters' attention.
• More than 300 people were killed in a bloody week preceding Kerry's critique.
• An American contractor was beheaded, further boosting the issue's presence on the campaign trail.
• The Newsweek poll found voters evenly divided on July 29, with 50% preferring Bush and 50% preferring Kerry on handling Iraq.

Sources:

• John Kerry's speech in Nashville
• Newsweek poll, July 29
• Senate Republicans, including Richard Lugar, Chuck Hagel, and John McCain, criticizing the administration's performance in Iraq over the weekend