It's too hysterical here tonight.
The people that have no firm opinion about the candidates, are not emotionally attached.
They aren't in despair over which candidate won on style. IMO, neither did.
They are not jumping up and down saying "Ah-hah! That man stumbled! I'm voting for the other guy!" Only the partisans in each camp are looking for a moment to hammer the other guy with. The undecideds are not hypersensitive to the mannerisms of each.
They are listening to the substance of the debates because they don't particularly care about which candidate scores a point in the image category.
Do not "misunderestimate" the American people. They are not "sheeple" as often labeled. Instead of concentrating of which person perspired more, they were focusing on the candidates words. It's amazing that more people here seem to be focused on image over substance, when conservatism is proudly defined as a realist ideology.
Bush had the edge in substance and Kerry had some disturbing remarks in this debate.
IMO, we arrive at a draw. Kerry's remarks were a turnoff, Bush held positions they were more in agreement with, but he didn't put it away because at moments he was too defensive. However, any observer not emotionally attached caught the constant negativity and attacks on the President of the United states.
Predictions on Undecideds:
They noted Kerry was negative. They noted his constant attacks on the President. They noted his positions on the WOT are not in line with their own. Nothing he did tonight came across as sincere or believable.
They noted the President did not stray from his convictions. They noted moments when he came across defensive. They noted he wasn't at his most articulate.
The next few days they'll have competing forces for their attention. Substance over style.
The memory of the words will outlast the image. The image can only hold until next each is seen. Words are not so easily erased.
Undecideds will still lean toward Bush.