But what are a few decades of tradition to John Kerry?

The American Legion will be having its convention while the GOP holds its national get-together, and Kerry is going to speak there.

Of course, Kerry thinks he has a good reason: "He's a member of the American Legion," Stephanie Cutter, Kerry's communications director told the New York Times. "He was invited to come address the group, and we felt like it was an important speech to give and an important time to give it."

Joint Chiefs chairman Gen. Richard Myers and homeland security czar Tom Ridge also will be there.

Plus, if Bill Clinton could sweep through Michigan while George Bush was being nominated, why can't Kerry give one little ol' speech, posits the Times?

Newsletter editor Charlie Cook told the Times he thinks the Democrats feel the election is so important he's not surprised at all Kerry would try a move like this.

"That's why all the rules get chucked out the window," Cook said. "Nobody wants to be sitting in the chair the rest of his life thinking about the 500 things they could have done differently."

Vice presidential candidates are traditionally free to barnstorm all they want, and John Edwards will be doing just that during the GOP convention, according to the Times - as did Dick Cheney while the Dems were busy shutting down the city of Boston during their convention.

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