WOULD JOHN KERRY have been better off not winning the Democratic presidential nomination so easily and so quickly? It’s not an entirely idle or silly question. And the reason is that Kerry has emerged from the primaries with his candidacy and his record largely unchallenged. He hasn’t been seriously vetted by the press. His image is undefined. All the public knows is he’s been winning primaries and once served in Vietnam. Now, President Bush’s reelection campaign will have a shot at defining Kerry.

Democratic national chairman Terry McAuliffe got his wish: an early nominee who didn’t suffer a beating in primaries that dragged on for months. That would normally be a good thing, a split in the party and bitter feelings having been avoided. But something unusual happened in this year’s primaries. Kerry wasn’t attacked by his opponents. He was treated respectfully while the entire field of Democratic presidential candidates focused fire on President Bush instead. Kerry wasn’t forced to defend himself–and thus toughen himself for the kind of criticism he’ll get now. Nor did he flesh out his political persona.