In almost every case I'll initially go for a guy that served over a guy that didn't serve.
Clinton/Bush Sr., Clinton/Dole.... no question. Gore/Bush, I consider that they both served honorably. Kerry/Bush, I consider that they both served honorable.
So the military service issue in this election is over for me.
Now...... who's fit to be POTUS?
Well, Bush should be running on his last 3 1/2 years in the ACTUAL JOB. The Dems should be attacking on that performance.
Kerry should be running on his record in public service, his Senate record. The Republicans should be attacking on that performance.
There's enough dung in both those heaps for a shirt-slinging mud fest by all parties.
Does the fact that both of them achieved 1 LT rank in the military qualify them as POTUS? Duh....... NO! These guys don't have an Eisenhower type military record. They were JUNIOR OFFICERS and that's all.