Why isn't this one of Kerry's campaign issues? (With Poll)

"Bush doesn't care about democracy in America."

How much talk was there in the aftermath of the 2000 election about voting reforms? And what have we got to show for it? And who's been in charge?

The frightening prospects of another contested, if not blatantly rigged, election are looming dangerously on the horizon. And the electronic voting planned for this November, sans paper trail, isn't helping things. So, why isn't Kerry making this a campaign issue? Here's why he should:

1. Another one of Bush's failures: Add it to the list, along with Iraq, jobs, etc. In the wake of the contested 2000 election, a Republican President and a Republican-led congress failed to make good on the promises they made to this country in late 2000 and 2001.
2. Visibility: If Kerry were to make it a campaign issue, it would be harder for the SCLM to ignore it. Conversely, it's easier for the SCLM to ignore this issue if Kerry never talks about it; Bush sure as hell won't bring it up.
3. Democracy: If this nation is to have any hopes of becoming truly democratic, then the integrity of our voting mechanisms cannot be compromised.
4. Pre-emptive strike: If there is a problem on Nov. 2nd, then that issue Kerry's been talking about all along will have laid the groundwork for focusing blame, not to mention rage.
5. What risk? If there isn't a problem, then SCLM/Repub. criticisms of Kerry for being alarmist won't matter; people will have already cast their votes.
6. Iraq: Tie it to Iraq. Why not criticize Bush for "caring more about democracy in Iraq than he does about democracy here at home"? O.K., that concedes too much, insofar as it implies that Bush did care about democracy in Iraq. But, really, if people are starting to see through the illusions of prophecies like "They'll welcome our troops with flowers, etc.", then maybe they'll question Bush's commitment to fostering democracy in Iraq. And that's when you say that Bush cares no more about democracy in Iraq than he does here at home.