Interestingly, Garry Trudeau lampooned John Kerry in a series of "Doonesbury" cartoons back in 1971. It seems that even then, a lefty True Believer like Trudeau saw a vainglorious streak in Kerry.

You can see the strips here, and the first one stands just on text alone.

Mike: Hey B.D.! John Kerry of the Vietnam vets is speaking at the auditorium. Wanna go?

Unidentified character: You better! If you care about this country at all, you better go listen to that John Kerry fellow....He speaks with a rare eloquence and astonishing conviction. If you see no one else this year, you must see John Kerry!

B.D.: Who was that?

Mike: John Kerry.