Hey, stop panicking. The LA Times poll is mainly the result of the Olympics. What do you think will happen when you have two weeks of non stop flag waving, jingoistic, patriotic displays?
The Republican convention with gold medals, that's what. Temporary and fleeting soft support for Bush is reflected in the LA Times poll. I know this because higer support among Democrats is indicitive of nationalistic feelings. But guess what? As the truth of Bush lying about connections to SBVT sinks in, those patriotic feelings, while still simmering, will begin to boil against Bush. Why? Because people who drifted from Kerry because of the SBVT liars will feel guilt. Guilt about doubting a true war hero. Guilt that will make them despise Bush because he will have succeeded in duping them. In a sense, we Americans treat Veterans like family. When a normal politician is smeared, people do not care as much, but when your brother is smeared, and you fall for it, later realizing you were duped, you get hopping mad at the person that would dare split up your family.
Another great result of SBVT is this: Now that it has been all but proven these charges were false, as the next few weeks progress you will see those same jingoistic images help Kerry because Bush has committed a form of family betrayal. By disgracing Kerry the war hero and getting busted, he has disgraced the FLAG also! He has backstabbed America the Family Unit. Over the weekend a jaundiced and cynical eye is going to develop among voters towards Bush and Republicans in general. So, all the flag waving at the RNC is going to do nothing but make people realize who deserves the chance to lead it. Call it the disown effect. Bush betrayed the family so American voters will disown him. So, look for Kerry to retake the lead this weekend, keep it after the RNC, and grow it from here on out. After all, Americans stand behind their family. Trust me, by mid September we will be thinking a whole lot more optimistically.