Hail to the Chief; DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION: John Kerry portrayed himself as a sober, credible commander in Boston. But his rival is already questioning the image. The battle is joined.

Byline: Howard Fineman and Tamara Lipper (With Susannah Meadows)

By the time John Kerry reported for duty at the Democratic convention in Boston at 2200 hours, the president was asleep in the White House. So George W. Bush did not hear the Massachusetts senator's unexpectedly sharp attack, delivered at a forced-march pace to instill urgency--and ensure a balloon drop at 2300. Kerry proclaimed a familiar, if slightly reworded, promise to make the country "stronger at home, respected in the world." But as he did in Vietnam, he made straight for the enemy's stronghold, in this case Bush's vision and performance as commander in chief. Inferentially but unmistakably, he depicted Bush as an untruthful, self-deluded war leader blind to the brutality of battle and the complexities of diplomacy. At the same time, Kerry portrayed himself the better prepared. "I will fight a smarter, more effective war on terror," he said. "After decades of experience in national security, I know the reach of our power and the power of our ideals. We need to make America once again a beacon in the world."

But the president had retired early for a reason: to rise before dawn to hit the road and join the fray. Wearing a presidential windbreaker and a determined look, Bush flew to Missouri to meet his opponent on the ground that history, and Kerry's own strategy, guarantees will be central in this long campaign. Whose doctrine, and whose character, is more suited to lead us in a post-9/11 struggle with a stateless, suicidal and elusive enemy? The war in Iraq, Bush said, was an example of his belief in the primacy of anticipation, not alliance making. When Saddam Hussein "continued to deceive the weapons inspectors," Bush said, "I had a decision to make: to hope for the best and to trust the word of a madman and a tyrant or remember the lessons of September 11 and defend our country. Given that choice, I will defend America every time," he told a cheering crowd on a ball field in Springfield. As for Kerry, Bush painted his 19-year Senate career as a study in legislative nonaccomplishment. "My opponent has good intentions," the president said, "but intentions do not always translate into results."

So the war over the war is joined. It is a real debate over a profound issue--the first time since 1972 that world affairs has dominated a campaign. It is far too early to tell whether attacking Bush as commander in chief is brilliant or not--or indeed, whether it's just an attempt to "inoculate" Kerry on the issue of militant patriotism before turning in the fall to wooing female swing voters, one kitchen-table domestic issue at a time. In the meantime did Kerry get a "bounce" from his micromanaged, flag-wavingly patriotic lovefest in Boston? Not much of one. Three weeks ago, after he chose Edwards as his running mate, Kerry led Bush 47 percent to 44 percent in a three-way race, with Ralph Nader at 3 percent. In the latest NEWSWEEK Poll, Kerry is leading 49-42-3. The survey, conducted half on Thursday night and half on Friday, indicates that Kerry picked up the most support after he delivered his acceptance speech. And there is another hopeful sign for Democrats: only 36 percent of voters say they are "satisfied" with the country's direction, a number that is even lower, other polls show, among undecided voters. But the GOP convention is still to come, and Bush has just begun to fight.

August is usually a quiet time, between conventions and before the stretch run of the fall. This time the guns of August are blazing in advertising on TV and on the nation's highways. Bush, who took most of the month off in the first three years of his presidency, is hitting the road by train, plane and automobile--and bus, attempting to match Kerry-Edwards's own two-week-long bus trip through battleground states. (Last Saturday the rival caravans came within miles of each other near the Ohio River.) On TV, Bush will be advertising heavily, touting his achievements and looking sunny and upbeat in new ads that also feature his wife, Laura. While Kerry can no longer spend private money (and wants to husband his federal cash), ...