The Democrats bringing back the prince of Camelot?

John Kerry has the right resume (four times senator and the presidential candidate nominated last month in Democrats' National Convention) but lacks the Kannedy charisma. John Edwards has charisma but lacks Kennedy's portfolio. Like the pieces of a puzzle the two Johns might just make one Jack. That's what seems to be the party's bet for the moment.

Kerry, the presidential candidate, brings naval war hero status as a swift boat Veteran in Vietnam -- just like the fallen president. He also has privileged upbringing like the Democrats' undisputed idol. The Democratic candidate has to his credit enormous senate experience and the JFK (John Forbes Kerry) initial.

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Edwards, Kerry's running mate offers youth, vigour and adorable children. He is at ease with himself and the press. After a minute of banter he can easily switch to his elegant riff about "Two Americas." During the primaries he withstood insulting questions about his 'Breck girl' hair with charm and pleasant drawl.

The new JFK (John Forbes Kerry) may do or say whatever it takes to win the White House but he cannot become John Fitzgerald Kennedy -- the Kerry voters of a certain age recall from news clips. Particularly his confusing statements on war, gay marriage and now abortion clearly point to Kerry's charm deficit. Here he needs someone like Edwards to rescue him. Edwards and family look and sound more like the Kennedy's -- as preserved in the old news clips of Kennedy era. But then Edwards cannot make up heft deficit in political resume within time between now and November. On their own neither measures up to original JFK.

However, those individual deficits may matter less to the voters than huge deficits in truth telling in the Oval office regarding the war with Iraq. Still they represent the Republicans' best chances for victory. If the voters fall in love with the handsome Kerry-Edwards ticket and they decline to de-construct, George Bush will not be reelected. Yet dazzled by the inherent advantages of incumbency and New York's Madison Square extravaganza of Republicans' National Convention, a dampened Kerry team has presumably resorted to the stratagem of creating a Kennedy fever by combining the attributes of both Johns for a last moment favourable saving.

Edwards has repeatedly been attacked on the ground of his political lightness but it will not greatly help the Republican cause. After all, Senior Bush also picked up still more light weight Dan Quayle as his running mate. Edwards is smoother, more cerebral and much more articulate than the Indiana Senator who ended up as Vice President. It is hard to imagine Dick Cheney taking him down so easily.

The voters' ultimate comfort level with Kerry is another matter, Edwards is the sunshine on the Democratic party ticket. It remains to be seen how long the presidential candidate enjoys basking in his running mate's glow. Choosing Edwards demonstrates humility not usually associated with Massachusset's senator. Accepting the media's unqualified love affair with Edwards up untill election day requires more of the same.

Brig ( retd) Hafiz is former DG of BIISS.