While Democratic Party officials publicly say Kerry did nothing wrong by identifying Mary Cheney's sexuality, outside the Kerry camp party regulars were horrified.

According to Novak:

"Democrats at debate-watching parties gasped in surprise. Wired focus group members across the country displayed an instant negative reaction. Old Democratic political hands, in disbelief, tried to convey their unhappiness to Kerry. Even Kerry's Republican friend, Sen. John McCain, publicly criticized the Democratic nominee."

The unhappiness from prominent Democrats was conveyed to Kerry's campaign plane with a strong recommendation: Apologize for any inadvertent insult.

The push for an apology had one important backer, seasoned Clinton press flack Mike McCurry, who joined team Kerry just last month.

But McCurry was shot down by the take-no-prisoners campaign staff, who agreed more with campaign manager Mary Beth Cahill's pronouncement that Mary Cheney was "fair game."

As Kerry continues to stonewall on any Cheney apology, some Republicans would like to see team Bush do more to spotlight his sleazy low-blow with a round of last-minute TV ads.

Reports Novak's colleague, William Safire:

"They have in mind a TV spot using an old film clip of a Boston lawyer named Welch at a Congressional hearing, saying 'Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?'"

Editor's note: