The October 2004 videotape from Osama bin Laden was the "most unwelcome backhanded endorsement in political history," Democratic strategist Bob Shrum said this morning.
The terrorist kingpin told the American people in a video released days before the presidential election that "Your security does not lie in the hands of Kerry, Bush or al Qaeda. Your security is in your own hands."
"Osama bin Laden actually is pretty smart about American politics," Mr. Shrum, who advised John Kerry during that election, told reporters today at a Christian Science Monitor breakfast.
He figures bin Laden knew his remarks would help President Bush be reelected and enhance recruitment of terrorists.
Mr. Kerry (D-Mass.) made similar comments after losing the election.
-- Christina Bellantoni, national political reporter, The Washington Times