I am a Dean person but also ABB. I am afraid that the Rethugs will kill Kerry once he is the clear frontrunner. In fact, after what happened to Dean they probably have an even greater sense of the power they and the media have. If I was them I would wait a while to kill him. In other words, hide in the bushes (cute huh?) let the other Dems drop out or far back. Then go full negative on him. Then it will be too late for Dems to have any viable candidate.
Just think about it. What are Kerry's positives? He was a war hero who came back and stood up to the powers back home. There is nothing else there. Many potential negatives though. Patrician, not a Dem leader, has not stood up to Bush, the L word, etc.
This eternal optimist is not feeling very good right now.
Keep your eyes on the prize.