by TChris

Demonstrating the political savvy that comes from a successful career in Washington, John Kerry has "gingerly opened the way to debating a one-year gap in the public record of Bush's service in the Texas Air National Guard."

"I don't know what the facts are with respect to the president's service," the decorated veteran said on a Tucson tarmac. "I know issues were raised previously. It's not up to me to talk about them or question them at this point. . . . It's up to the president and the military to answer those questions."

At first glance, this statement might seem bland and evasive. But notice how he drives the story forward without risking a backlash. He makes no accusations, but in the end he puts the ball squarely in Bush's court, saying it is "up to the president" to resolve the matter.

Bush claims that he satisfied his service requirement, but has not produced the documents that would settle the question. Other Democrats have revived the issue, including DNC Chairman Terence McAuliffe, who accused Bush of being "AWOL." But Kerry, whose own war record is a strength, "is uniquely positioned to make this issue stick." The issue could prove to be yet another embarrassment to the President. In any event, the issue invites attention to the respective war records of Bush and Kerry -- a comparison the Bush camp would prefer not to invite.

Update: On Sunday, President Bush defended his military record, criticized Democrats for making an issue of his National Guard service, and promised to release his service records -- "if we still have them." When asked why no evidence supported his claim that he reported to duty in Alabama during the summer and fall of 1972, Bush said: "There may be no evidence, but I did report."