I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep -- Kerry campaign??

Labor Day week the challenger's campaign was in disarray, the candidate stepping on his own message after a less than successful speech to veterans. He has "squandered the initiative," the Washington Post wrote, and revived questions about "his own plausibility as a president."

John Kerry, 2004? Yes. But it was Ronald Reagan, 1980, that the Washington Post was writing about. That week, almost a quarter century ago, the Republicans put veteran political operative Stu Spencer in charge of the campaign plane and there was a steady improvement.

Sen. Kerry has made several much-needed, if belated, changes, including placing a veteran political operative -- John Sasso -- in charge of the traveling candidate's plane. Understandably, this hasn't quelled Democratic angst among those who wonder if Sen. Kerry has blown it.

(Al Hunt from 9-9-04 wsj.)