"This is a big-issue election, not a little-breeze election, where the slightest breeze can cause a real flutter," Hart said. "People are deeply unhappy about Iraq and have made up their minds."
When pressed, Hart acknowledged that in very, very close races such as Senate contests in Virginia and Missouri, Kerry's blunder could make a difference. But he said that is highly unlikely.
"For Republicans to use the Kerry thing is like using a bathtub full of water to put out a house fire," he said.
Still, the flap over Kerry has diverted Democrats from their message, much as the Foley scandal did to Republicans.
The Kerry story, which has dominated political coverage in the media for the second day, resulted in little coverage for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's most far-reaching criticism of Bush's handling of the war.
She called for "a fundamental change in course."
Ordinarily, a detailed critique of Iraq policy by a possible presidential contender in 2008 would likely garner widespread attention. But it was virtually lost as the media focused on Kerry.
Today Clinton was one of the many Democrats who separated themselves from Kerry.
She said Kerry's comments were inappropriate, and suggested Kerry should have more respect for the troops.
Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., a vocal opponent of the war, tried to defend Kerry in a written statement: "I'm sure, knowing John Kerry, he didn't mean in any way to denigrate our troops."
When questioned by reporters, though, Murtha added: "He should quit trying to … tell jokes, because that was no joke. It was a serious miscalculation on his part."
