As a senator Mr Kerry was an odd mixture: he was indeed an arch liberal on social and cultural issues, but he was also a pro-trade fiscal hawk, so he has always had ties to moderate, business-friendly New Democrats.

ECONOMIST: Can John Kerry make himself look more moderate?

Forty-two years old, with cropped light-brown hair, tenth-grader looks, and a fluttering, finchlike energy, he is an odd mixture of the nerdy and the messianic.

NEWYORKER: The Checklist