"Let's review the bidding: there are no weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) in Iraq, a finding confirmed with finality this week by chief U.S. weapons inspector Charles Duelfer. Iraq was not a "grave and gathering threat" as Bush said. It was a diminishing threat. Former Coalition Provisional Authority head Paul Bremer blew Bush's cover when he revealed this week that he had repeatedly requested additional troops for Iraq and been turned down. Bush maintains that he’s never been asked for more troops. Bremer's revelation was followed by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's contention that he never saw hard evidence connecting Saddam Hussein to Al Qaeda."

"The Duelfer report, Bremer’s words and Rumsfeld’s confession may take some time to sink in with voters. It’s like a bad marriage, says Wilson. You have to first come to grips with the fact that you’re in a bad relationship. Then you have to decide to do something about it—and finally you have to muster the courage to go out with somebody new. The country has a lot invested in Bush as protector in chief. Admitting that confidence was misplaced is hard, and that’s what makes this such a close race."