If he does not make an improvement, he just opens the door for Kerry.
But to state it the way he said it was out of line. First, he is wrong. The final debate ends three to four weeks before the election and even if he does miserable on his final two debates or loses them on 'points' there is plenty of time to blunt the impact.
Secondly, Bush gives this guy an interview. Bill, more than anyone should know what kind of substance the President brings to the table, and to so quickly not even give him any sort of benefit of the doubt this soon out from those interviews is disappointing at the very least.
After almost totally discounting the Swift Boat vets and now defending Rather to the teeth I say Bill has cetrtainly grown long in the tooth and has become the 'bloviator' he once despised...
Bush unfortunately has to knock it out of the park because the
pundits after the debate are going to try and kill him no matter what, case in point sissy mathews.
I think Bush has already opened the door to let Kerry in and start a barroom brawl. Instead of shutting the door in Kerry's face, he made faces, which is what most people remember about that unmemorable event.