Dabiel Aronstein, of The Astute Blogger, notes that John Kerry strayed over another border, and this time isn't bragging about it. Accompanied by New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson on a campaign swing, he found himself in Texas. The AP's Nedra Pickler reported:

Kerry stopped by the Red Rooster Cafe, just a few yards over the state line into Texas. He had just finished a rally in Las Cruces, N.M., and sat down for an iced tea with New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and Lt. Gov. Diane Denish before heading to evening Mass on the New Mexico side of town.

Kerry's plane landed in El Paso, Texas, for the visit, but he didn't spend any time campaigning with voters in Bush's home state and immediately left for an afternoon in New Mexico.

The Texas—New Mexico border runs right through Anthony. When asked which side of the line they were on, Kerry looked at Richardson, who said with a nod that they were in New Mexico.

But their waitress and the police keeping watch outside the restaurant said it is in Anthony, Texas, not Anthony, N.M. An officer pointed to the Brown Derby Pub just up the street and said the line runs right through it.

Given the hectic schedule of campaigning, we're inclined to grant both candidates plenty of slack in not remembering where they are. This is an entirely different matter than Kerry telling a Michigan crows that he's a big Buckeye football fan, or telling Wisonsin voters about "Lambert Field." Confusing the St. Louis Airport with the sacred ground of the Packers, or not realizing that the Ohio State football team is the Buckeyes and Michigan is the Wolverines just shows he is once again faking being a "regular guy," and not just honestly confused about the details of where he is.

Thomas Lifson   10 24 04