Politics is often a matter of expectations. John Kerry’s reputation as an orator is not outstanding. He has often been long-winded and wooden. His performance in Boston on Thursday night was, by comparison, forceful and polished. He could not fairly be described as boring. He made the most of his interesting personal history and sought to convince American voters that he has the qualities required to serve as Commander-in-Chief in testing times. He deliberately sought to neutralise George W. Bush’s perceived advantage on national security questions. It would be a surprise if he did not receive a boost of some form in the polls that will be conducted over the new few days.
A robust performance on the stage and a well-crafted speech are not,