] Let's rewind history and study another rumor, one which
] cost Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) his candidacy in 2000.
] McCain was running a close campaign against George Bush
] in South Carolina, when Karl Rove introduced his
] brilliant strategy: push polling (Rove has been involved
] in push polling since the early 70s). Essentially, calls
] were made to households asking "Would you be more
] likely or less likely to vote for John McCain for
] president if you knew he had fathered an illegitimate
] black child" Many took this to say that he had one,
] and seeing McCain and his wife on stage with their
] adopted Bangladeshi daughter, concluded that the rumor
] was true. The sight of the little dark skinned girl made
] the seed planted earlier grow, and McCain ended up losing
] South Carolina and subsequentially dropping out of the
] race.
]
] So what does push polling have to do with a rumor of
] Kerry having an affair? Well some would argue that they
] are merely separate heads of the same beast. Pointing an
] indignant finger at the machinations of Karl Rove, the
] Bush administration's strategist who has a penchant for
] dispersing rumors, many on the Democrat side will claim
] that Rove is up to his old shenanigans and that the
] rumors have no basis. What caused McCain to lose in 2000
] could inspire Democrats to rally behind Kerry, and lead
] to a major rift between the parties and brings the race
] to a closer finish. Theoretical, but plausible.

This was posted on the 6th.