Check out the last paragraph of Ruy Teixeira's analysis of the most recent Gallup poll:
"Bush's overall approval rating is now 49 percent approve/48 percent disapprove, tied for the worst of his presidency. And here are his approval ratings in four specific areas, all the worst of his presidency: the economy, 41 approve/56 disapprove; foreign affairs, 42/53; the situation in Iraq, 42/55; and terrorism, 52/45 (!)."
http://www.emergingdemocraticmajorityweblog.com/donkeyrising/archives/000486.php
I think even more so than the Iraq issue, Kerry needs to get out ahead on terrorism.
After all, post 9/11, terrorism is truly the security issue of most concern to Americans, and looks like an increasingly vulnerable area for Bush - even though his whole candidacy appears to be based on it.
The Gallup poll shows only very narrow support for Bush on this issue. It's time to take it away from him.
How to do this? Don't wait for the 9/11 Commission Report or until another tragedy befalls us. Seize on reports that US Nuclear facilities are still vulnerable(http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4846355/), that are ports are still not secure (http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/business/5686906.htm). Propose strategic plans and government support that would accelerate these crucial processes, and pointedly ask why it hasn't been done, yet.
After all, if there was enough money for huge tax breaks for the affluent and to fund a needless war, there must have been enough money available to make America secure. Essentially, make it apparent that Kerry is siding with the public's interests while Bush is beholden to his special interests that he puts before those of the country.
Also, it might not hurt to propose implementing many of the key findings of the bipartisan 21st Century Commission's (the commission that was led by Gary Hart and Warren Rudman) report on homeland security - the report that landed on Bush's desk in January of 2001 and was ignored.
This is a crucial threshold issue for Kerry to cross if he is to convince the public to elect him this fall. While Bush's standing on the issue has been falling, Kerry can't afford to just sit back. He needs tom establish credibility on the issue so he can take advantage of the fact that Bush hasn't done enough to make us safe.
What's more, without pre-emptive action on the issue, Kerry takes the risk that another terrorist event prior to the election will create an undeserved Bush rally. I think a rally effect will be less likely to occur if people understand how little Bush has done.