Dear Mr Kerry,
The Bush administration appears to want to keep the spotlight on you:
White House insists Kerry apologize
This is a GOOD THING.
Take the media soapbox that they're so foolishly pushing you onto, and use it to say over and over to the American people:
"Iraq is descending into chaos. Our own military is saying this, and they've told this to Bush. Yet he lies, obfuscates, and ignores the truth. The American people have to hold him accountable for this and demand that he answer for this disastrous war that is nothing but a BIG LIE."
Yes, you made a gaffe, but in doing so, you gave yourself an opening to attack Bush and his war in full view of the American people - with less than a week to go until the election. Now that you're in the spotlight, use the exposure to say what the people need to hear. This is not the time to apologize or revisit your mistake in any way. It's the time to attack.
You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.
Keep kicking ass. I, for one, have your back.