American Demographics

The iconic cartoon of this presidential race may have been one from the Newark Star-Ledger, showing Vice President Cheney cuddling a drooling baby golden retriever with a loopy look on its face. Cheney's stern visage stared out, with the warning: "If you make the wrong choice in November, terrorists will attack this puppy."

That's been the war cry for the Bush reelection team. Bush-Cheney campaign squads portray Kerry as "weak on terrorism," and "Al-Qaeda's candidate."

Will a man who cheats on his wife cheat on the public? Virginia voters faced that question a decade ago after enduring a stream of reports about then Senator Chuck Robb's embarrassing extramarital exploits. Old Dominion residents clamored about being appalled at Robb's behavior. Come November 1994, however, Robb won reelection, edging out Oliver North. Conservative Virginia voters, it was said, intoned, "Robb is one of ours."