Bring it, bitch

The Kerry campaign made a great strategic move today:

QUINCY, Ill. (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, visiting the site of one of the most famous political debates in U.S. history, challenged President Bush on Saturday to a "real discussion about America's future" in monthly debates.

Kerry, already engaged in a running exchange of negative ads with Bush before the November election, said, "America shouldn't have to put up with eight months of sniping."

"I believe the American people are hungry for a genuine conversation about the fundamental questions before us," Kerry said in Quincy, Illinois, site of one of the seven historic Abraham Lincoln-Stephen Douglas debates.

...

"Surely, if the attack ads can start now at least we can agree to start a real discussion about America's future," Kerry said, trying to take the high road early in a campaign already marked by bitter charges and counterattacks.

This is a brilliant idea -- if the Bush administration declines, then Kerry can accuse the Bush campaign of being negative and afraid to tackle the issues. If they agree to monthly debates, then Bush (a poor public speaker with or without a script) will have to face Kerry, a seasoned debater. Either way, this is a great thing.