The first tangible fallout has hit as an Iowa Congressional candidate Brucy Braley cancels a campaign event.

Iowa candidate asks Kerry to cancel campaign visit

DES MOINES, Iowa A Democratic Congressional candidate from Iowa is canceling a campaign event later this week with Senator John Kerry.

Brucy Braley says Kerry's recent comments about the Iraq war were inappropriate.

Braley is running against Republican Mike Whalen in Iowa's First District congressional race. It's a contest considered to be one of the most competitive House races in the country.

Braley's decision to distance himself from Kerry came as a furor grew from comments Kerry made about the Iraq War during a campaign stop in California on Monday.

Kerry said if you make the most of your education, you "can do well." The Democrat went on to say that is you don't, (quote) "you get stuck in Iraq."

The remarks prompted sharp criticism from some Republicans, including President Bush and Arizona Senator John McCain.

Kerry refused to apologize.

This article asks "Did Kerry Hand Republicans a November gift?"  Even the Democrats seem to think so-

For weeks, Republicans on the campaign trail have been looking for something — anything — to talk about other than the record of the Republican Congress and the way the Bush administration has conducted the war in Iraq.

Monday, they got their wish. While stumping for local Democrats in California, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., addressed students at Pasadena City College and made a comment about education and the war in Iraq that lent itself to much controversy.

What's unclear is if Kerry's comments will help rally Republican voters or help their party portray Democrats as against the troops to score victories next Tuesday. A Democratic congressman told ABC News Tuesday, "I guess Kerry wasn't content blowing 2004, now he wants to blow 2006, too."

And this one is hard for him to ignore:

Marine's Family Urges Kerry To Learn More About Military

Senator's Comments About Iraq, Troops Draw Criticism

The mother of a local Marine who was killed in Iraq spoke out Tuesday about the comments that Sen. John Kerry made about U.S. troops and education.

NewsCenter 5's Jim Boyd reported Tuesday that while talking to a group of students in California, Kerry urged them to study hard or else they can "get stuck in Iraq."

"I am very disturbed. I am very insulted and very sad that he doesn't understand how highly educated and well trained our military men and women are," said Debra Booth, whose son was killed in Iraq

Seems like an awful lot of fuss, that would all be unnecessary had he just apologized and shown some humility.

Previously:

• John Kerry suffers foot and mouth disease 
• John Kerry has a meltdown, and issue a non apoology Updated 
• Was the Kerry “faux pas” just a botched joke? If so, then why won’t he just apologize 
• Max Cleland defends John Kerry; Bill Frist joins call for apology

Others: Hot Air, Michelle Malkin,  Sister Toldjah,  Captains Quarters, Right Winged, Blue Crab, Big Dog; Woman Honor Thyself, Texas Rainmaker, Right Voices, Wizbang, Iowa Voice, Stop The ACLU, Chez Diva, Ace of Spades, Anchoress, Hugh Hewitt, Bills Bites

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