I think that GW and his team decided to let Kerry just go for it during the first 2/3's.
The Republicans have fact checkers vetting every answer, response and utterance that Kerry made tonight.
We will see many of those answers, responses, and utternances in hard hitting ads for our side.
This will set the stage for debates 2 and 3. If Kerry repeats himself re bad answers, responses and utterances in debate #2, he will have defeated himself with his own mouth. Kerry's responses will become great ads for GW.
Indeed, Kerry may be cornered. If he repeats his lie, Bush can challenge it with the truth. If he speaks truth but contradicts his earlier statement, Bush can question him about the earlier statement.