Oh, Tim. Give us Dems credit for a few brains (though admittedly we're not always the sharpest tools in the shed). Teddy is the analogue to Bush campaigning with someone like Jesse Helms (first stone-age right winger that comes to mind). Now in some parts of the country, say backwoods North Carolina, former Senator Helms would get Bush a few votes. In a more moderate state, he'd scare away Republicans. Same with Teddy, but the opposite, sort of. A lot of us liberals would LOVE to see Teddy fire up a crowd of Dems. But Teddy would be an anchor around Kerry's neck with more moderate Dems.

Bring on the anchor :)

Look at it this way; if the Kerry campaign drives of a bridge, as looks likely even without Kennedy's involvement, at least this way, they'll have an excuse.

Are there many moderate Democrats these days? I don't think so. The party I grew up with in Massachusetts has become the part of hate.

Well, that may work in Massachusetts these days, but it won't help in the rest of the country.