Here's some notes from my conversation with John Kerry, who's headed to Tacoma tomorrow to stump for Obama:

"I've come to Tacoma several times. I had a wonderful rally there. I loved it...
I left from Tacoma to go to Vietnam in 1968. I go way back with Tacoma."

OK, OK. I'm listening.

I asked him what he learned from the attacks ads in 2004 from the so-called Swiftboat Veterans for Truth - and if he sees a parallel to the attacks on Obama (several internet rumors have claimed Obama is Muslim, wouldn't be sworn in on the Bible, etc.).
"I believe that, look, we all learn. We thought we had answered the smears and the lies enough. It wasn't an unwillingness (to comment). We thought the truth was out there."

The lesson: "You just have to keep track of every dollar they're spending." He indicated Obama was doing as much. "Barack Obama has a fire in the belly and the toughness to answer (to attacks)." He also said "all of us around him will make certain" that he takes it in stride.

[More:]

"I understand it better than anybody in the country," he said, of personal attacks.

Of course, Kerry said, if John McCain is the Republican nominee, it'll "test whether (he'll) run the kind of campaign he's promised."

Here's the rest:
"The bottom line is I believe Barack is the one candidate ... who has the ability to be a transformations president ... to unite people, bring them together ... red state governors and senators are endorsing him and they're doing it because they understand that he has the ability to unite."

On his decision to support Obama over Clinton or his former runningmate, Edwards (who has since dropped out of the race):
"It is a very difficult decision. I like Hilary, I have great respect for her. I'm not going to say anything negative about Hilary, because this isn't based on anything negative, it's based on something positive."

So ... are you saying you believe Obama is more electable:
"He just has a better chance of doing it. A better chance of drawing a contrast with John McCain, a contrast on generational change, a contrast on substance, a contrast on the issue of reform and change in Washington," D.C., of course, "because Barack hasn't been in Washington as long."

On experience:
"Barack has more legislative experience than his opponent, but it's not all in Washington. I think that's good."

That unnamed opponent is Hil. But, going back to earlier, you sound pretty confident that McCain will be the Republican nominee:
"If he's the nominee. If. I always said if. I never believe it's over until the votes are counted."

More on unity:
"I believe he has the ability to bring people together across international lines. The ability to reach out to the rest of the world and inspire people about the real America. To be a living example of the American story – coming from a single parent, going to a great college, Columbia, going on to Harvard to be the president of the Harvard Law Review, not going to Wall Street to make millions."

Some news reports have said people in Arab countries doubt America will actually elect a black candidate. So what role, if any, does race play in his ability to unite:
"What I'm saying is that he's an example of the real America. You just said it. Some people say that they don't think Americans would elect an African American ... People in other countries believe we're not who we say we are ... (Because of his background) Barack can speak to other parts of the world with enormous credibility."

Before I could ask him if he knew who his former running mate would endorse, he hopped on a jet.