I really don't understand the diaries I'm reading here.
"We're losing in all the polls!"
"Bush is killing us!"
"Kerry needs to go nuclear right now!"
Of course, we're losing in all the polls. It's the Republican convention. Bush gets a boost.
Of course, the SBVfT ads did some damage in August. Kerry didn't spend a lot of effort responding to them, so they were largely (but not completely) unopposed.
So what? The campaigns change after the end of the RNC. Bush and Kerry have the same war chests at that point. Republicans have to outspend Democrats to beat them. Bush hasn't garnered much in the way of a lead, to date.
Kerry's campaign will do what they need to do to win. And I think that "win" at least includes the Senate. There are so many avenues of attack. Kerry's campaign really hasn't played (or showed) many cards. The Bush campaign cannot know what attacks will be mounted.
Kerry will be ready to slam Bush. When it's time. I've given up second-guessing these folks. They beat (IMHO) better Democratic candidates. Because they're better at winning elections.
Bush is toast. Kerry, cool and calmly, will decide just exactly when to fry his ass. This election is going to be a blowout.