I think Kerry energized his base, but that's about all. He still comes across as a pompous jerk to the average Joe.
I think people’s first reaction is that Kerry won because they expected someone who would flip – flop and say something dumb because that has been Kerry’s performance in the Campaign to this point. Also, Kerry is a skilled debater and was better on classic debate style, and this was more or less a classic debate structure.
However, as the days pass and internet bloggers examine what each Candidate said and identify false statements by the Candidates, I believe that the conclusion will be that Kerry actually lost.
Without question Kerry got a number of things wrong – General Franks has already contradicted Kerry on men, weapons and material being pulled out of Afghanistan and going to Iraq. There will be many others. Kerry made the mistake of trying to sound very informed and cited a lot of “facts”. He is not quite as smooth a liar as is Clinton. And Clinton didn’t have to face the Internet and its now legion of bloggers.
There are several statements by Kerry that will come back to haunt Kerry, some are:
Kerry proposed giving nuclear fuel to Iran for “peaceful” purposes and the only “peaceful” purpose nuclear fuel could be used for is energy. So the US should have given nuclear fuel to a country that has the second or third largest amount of energy in the world in the form of oil & gas. A very stupid proposition when you think about it. Also, that proved to be a failed policy when Clinton gave North Korea nuclear tech for “peaceful” purposes and NK used it to build nukes.
The other “biggie” was Kerry saying that we needed to meet a “global test” before proceeding with military action to protect ourselves. We were attacked, we are at war, there is a high probability that we will be attacked again. Kerry will ask permission before taking action to protect American lives. How many ways can you say DUMB.
Also, Kerry would abandon the “bunker-busting nukes” essential for the US to get at, or at least threaten, North Korea’s and Iran’s nuclear facilities, which are buried under a mountain in each country. The typical leftist “unilateral disarmament”. When we are in a shooting war, we should disarm – great strategy.
There were other gaffs by Kerry, but these alone, I believe, will kill Kerry when the RNC and/or bloggers get them out to the public.
Many were thinking Bush would land a knockout punch and they don’t think they saw one. I think in a few days or a week you will see Kerry fade once what he said soaks in.