In 2004, John Kerry was a decorated war hero. Until the swiftboat. After, he was a wimp that was shot merely in the buttocks, someone who declared all troops evil, and someone who abandoned his country during war. Flash forward, 2008: John McCain's war record is now being questioned. It all starts with "gaps."

Various reports, including Jeffrey Klein's today on the HUFFINGTON POST, have questioned McCain as the war hero.

The war hero mantra appeared to be the strongest of all possibilities for McCain.

But one last flash back: In 2004, John Kerry saluted America at the Democratic National Convention and said he was reporting for duty. He didn't know the battle ahead. He lost. Will the swiftboat topple McCain, too? The state of American politics is dirty, without doubt.. but when candidates don't realize it, they lose.

AP PHOTO