As to the debates all of you are so certain will take place as given, here is some interesting reporting from today's NYT:

"Ken Mehlman, Bush's campaign manager, wouldn't be pinned down on a schedule for debates. Kerry has said he'll be in Coral Gables, Fla., on Sept. 30 for the first of three presidential debates proposed by the Commission on Presidential Debates.

``We look forward to these debates. We look forward to having a debate about debates. We will, in an appropriate time, which is shortly, talk about our intended participation,'' Mehlman told ABC's ``This Week.''

Kerry spokesman Joe Lockhart, appearing on the same program, shot back: ``Debates don't need to be debated. We don't need `intended.' If the president has an agenda that he can defend, show up at the debates.''

Doesn't sound all that encouraging to me. Like I said, Bush as the incumbent being this far ahead in the polls right now, has no reason to debate Kerry, and it does have the potential for going badly for Bush. Which is why I think there is a chance the Bush/Cheney team is going to bow out of the debates, and will ramp up the propaganda campaign, which is a much better tool for them, instead.