A Pre-Emptive Election Challenge

Regretting Al Gore's quick concession in 2000, "Democrats are already laying the public relations groundwork [for a protracted election challenge] by pointing to every possible voting irregularity before the Nov. 2 election and accusing Republicans of wrongdoing." The Kerry campaign will have "six so-called 'SWAT teams' of lawyers and political operatives ... situated around the country with fueled-up jets awaiting Kerry's orders to speed to a battleground state." While lawyers are mounting legal challenges, "political operatives will try to shape public perception," saying that "Kerry has the best claim to the presidency and that Republicans are trying to steal it."