The difference is Kerry made his military service an issue.
The difference? What difference? Read the posts before you respond.
As I said before: "McCain thought his service was relevant during his Biography Tour. You know, the one that detailed all of his military experience (except the parts mentioned above), and stopped at the day he left the service. Conveniently omitted were his adultery with Cindy, his divorce of the wife who waited and raised his children while he was imprisoned, the Keating Five mess, and the 25 years he spent as the ultimate Washington insider."
The Biography Tour was nothing but McCain campaigning on his military service.