John Kerry

IF Romney continues to do well, and "runs the table", something I think is very possible, then like Kerry, he would have gotten through the primaries without a whole lot of vetting. Imagine, if Kerry had been hit with most of those vicious attacks early on. Then by the time the General Election had hit, it would have been "old news". I think Obama greatly benefited from that long primary with Hillary. Most baggage (like notably Rev. Wright) was already out, and the Republicans didn't have a whole lot in their arsenal to shoot at him in the General.

In that sense I hope this thing ends early, so Romney will think he has escaped unscathed. Then wait for the populist wrath that will hit him in the general election. His Bain Capital days alone are enough to really hurt him, and I have to say, I haven't heard a lot about it except for a NYT article so far. Although the Swift Boat stuff was lies, the FEELINGS those vets had toward Kerry and his opposition to the Vietnam War were real. Imagine if Edwards or Dean had run with the SBVT stuff in the fall of '03, and Kerry had still won the nomination. It's all about timing .....