It is always bad news when there is no one around who the candidate will listen to. This problem became evident last Thursday at midnight when Mr. Kerry, with a Nixonian 5 o'clock shadow, growled in the dark about the vice president's deferments. That seemed to have broken the cone of silence. By Sunday afternoon, as Bill Clinton was only hours from being put on the gurney for his heart operation, he had time both to give Kerry some confidential campaign advice -- and to leak the advice to the press for emphasis.

 Clinton's advice: Stop talking about Vietnam, and focus on jobs and the economy. Herein is the heart of Kerry's problem: The dynamics of the election is turning against Kerry. Since the beginning of the primary campaign, he has boldly premised his strategy on the assertion that he will be a better commander and chief during war time than President Bush.

 Yes, he has also talked about jobs, the economy, health care, the environment, etc. But as his convention demonstrated with his band of brothers on stage, his medals and heroics constantly praised, and his opening salute to the nation that he was reporting for duty, it was his fitness for command that was to be the reason for his election.

 Now, with his heroics credibly questioned, his 18-year Senate record of voting against a strong defense, a fully funded intelligence revealed and with the polls showing more than a 20-point negative gap for Kerry on that very issue of fitness for command -- the smartest Democratic strategists, including Bill Clinton, are urging him to drop the topic and run on jobs and the economy.

 I suppose it is possible to make the case. But with unemployment at 5.4 percent (lower than when Bill Clinton rode to re-election in 1996), inflation and mortgage rates low, over a million jobs created in recent months -- and with the public telling pollsters that the war on terrorism is the most important issue -- only a world-class politician would be likely to be able to pull it off. John Forbes Kerry would not seem to be such a candidate.

 Twice married to heiresses, his mansions scattered about America and Europe, windsurfing off fashionable Nantucket, riding a $5,000 bicycle, speeding around in a six-figure or higher racing boat, flying his hairdresser cross country for a trim, served by a butler -- John Kerry might have been able to pull off the role of aristocratic military officer on a white horse.

 But he surely doesn't look like the kind of demagogue who could turn a 5.4 percent unemployment rate into a cause for rebellion. What he looks like is someone who, two months from now, will have many sneering words to say to his filthy rich liberal hangers-on about a benighted electorate that didn't even have the common sense to elect him president.