That was my feeling too.
Foreign policy and defense issues should be Bush's forte.
For whatever the reason, Bush didn't score a decisive win against Kerry.
A decisive victory by Bush might have permanently ended Kerry's presidential hopes.
I worry about this so-called "townhall" debate format. I could be wrong but I suspect that the "undecided" voters attending it might not be so undecided after all.
Not so long ago, I noticed that W started speaking, except when on campaign trail, quietly and weakly. He started over-pronouncing his words...very deliberately as if he is reading to children. He has gotten worse instead of better at public speaking. I am afraid that he is and has been reacting to criticism and has become intimidated. I also feel that he won't strike back enough and be tough enough due to fear of being criticized. In short, to me he has become somewhat paralyzed cause his "people" have over-managed him to the extent that he is afraid to do anything.