Sad, But True

I think Josh Marshall's suggested, but discounted, analysis is actually on the mark.

A contrary reading of these polls might suggest that the president gains as national security and war issues become more salient, even if they are becoming more salient because of what seem to be objectively bad news about his policies.

This is the big challenge Kerry faces. Bad foreign policy news isn't enough - he's still going to need to upend the whole "war president tough on terra" nonsense.