At the beginning of last week, Mike Potemra — NR’s back-pages editor, and

an old Reagan staffer — told me that the bottom would drop out of the Kerry

campaign over this next few days. I was doubtful, but Mike was right.

That great Convention helped tremendously, of course. Above all the issues,

sheer political dexterity counts for a lot. John Kerry is a lousy

candidate, George W. Bush is a terrific one. On to the debates!