Afraid of Kerry, and the American people? - "Bush likely to bow out of one debate "
My guess is that since he can't have Cheney with him, his people are terrified. And, I suspect his folksy manner would score well against Kerry.
And it's hard to dodge the idea that for the first time in my memory a presidential candidate is afraid of even cherry-picked folks in the audience.
Adviser cites concern over possible town meeting participants
Arf (a coward dies a thousand deaths, Bow. Yep, he's died a few thousand.)