Kerry's Toughest Crowd

By Richard S. Dunham and Lee Walczak

OPENING A WEDGE. What's more, swing voters in different states have radically different priorities. In Ohio, where the economy tops the list of concerns and terrorism runs far behind, Kerry is ahead, according to Gallup. But in Florida, where independents are far more focused on terrorism, Bush clings to a narrow lead. "It's hard to figure out one message they can target to swing voters," says Gallup's Frank Newport.

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Any exploration of what's riling swing voters is an exercise in cognitive dissonance. Gr