I spoke too soon when I said that I was surprised that Kerry hadn’t used the opportunity of being obliquely referred to in Bush’s speech as an opportunity to proclaim himself back on the comeback trail.

Apparently, that’s exactly what he did:

By singling out Kerry as the Democrats’ leading Iraq war critic, aides to the Massachusetts Democrat said, the president confirmed Kerry’s continuing prominence in national politics, something the senator and his aides have fought hard to maintain.

‘’Kerry is clearly one of the national leaders of the Democratic Party,” said Jenny Backus, a Kerry political strategist. ‘’John Kerry has articulated a clear strategy for Democrats, and there’s nothing more dangerous for Republicans than a united Democratic Party.”

Hoo boy. This is a wonderful bit of self-parody. Bush mentioned “his opponent” (never used the K-word) only in order to point out his sheer hypocrisy. But whee-baby, that sounds like saying he’s a national leader of the Democratic Party to me.

But the best bit of ironic understatement goes to the reporters for this blue-eyed observation:

Kerry seemed to relish his return to the national spotlight.

NO kidding.