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FLASHBACK POLL: Who Won the First 1984 Reagan vs. Mondale Debate? (Mondale 54%, Reagan 35%)
Blogs for Bush ^ | Oct. 1, 2004 | Matt Margolis

Posted on 10/01/2004 12:34:21 PM PDT by West Coast Conservative

Spin is underway, and a variety of polls are suggesting a Kerry victory in the debate last night.

Truth be told, Kerry exceeded expectations, but when it came to substance, he came up short.

The flash polls still suggest Kerry won the debate, which Democrats think makes Kerry suddenly unstoppable. Historically speaking, that's hardly the case. Otherwise, we would have seen President Mondale, President Dukakis, President Perot, and President Gore.

Since 1984, no Republican has won in the flash polls from the first debate, but has won 3 out of 5 of those elections.

Ross Perot beat both Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush in the flash poll with 47%. Michael Dukakis beat George H.W Bush 38-29... don't forget, this is the same debate Dukakis gave an emotionless response when asked if his wife were raped and murdered.

In 1984, Reagan was said to have lost the first debate 54-35.

Reagan (the Republican incumbant) was reelected after winning 49 states.

The Kerry camp thinks they should be celebrating right now. But the flash poll is not the election. We can debate who won the debate until we're blue in the face, but no matter how you slice it, in the end substance still is more important than style, and Bush had the monopoly on substance.


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: bush; debate; dukakis; election; firstdebate; kerry; mondale; reagan
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1 posted on 10/01/2004 12:34:22 PM PDT by West Coast Conservative
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To: West Coast Conservative

Well said and helpfull to keep the faith!


2 posted on 10/01/2004 12:39:11 PM PDT by metalmanx2j (I fear a John Kerry presidency)
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To: West Coast Conservative
Bush was much better than Reagan was for that first debate.
3 posted on 10/01/2004 12:40:37 PM PDT by Freepdonia (Victory is Ours!)
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To: West Coast Conservative

Thanks for providing the historical background.


4 posted on 10/01/2004 12:44:37 PM PDT by syriacus (All things work together for good to them that love God...who are called according to His purpose)
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To: West Coast Conservative

Went against Mondale in '84
And though in debate he seemed to score
We whipped him with a big landslide
Now he's at burger-town, makin' fries.


5 posted on 10/01/2004 12:44:53 PM PDT by HumbleButExceedinglyAccurate
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To: West Coast Conservative
I think a lot of people were looking to Kerry to give a tangible plan on Iraq and the war on terrorism. He didn't do that, and I think most people will realize in a few day, if they haven't already, that they do not have any clearer picture on what Kerry would do. They know they he's got a lot of criticisms, but criticizing the past is not a substitute for a plan for the future.

Kerry doesn't realize it yet, but he lost this debate. He delivered a lot of platitudes, but he didn't deliver what people have been waiting to hear. It may have been his last chance to deliver. I suspect soon he will find himself having to reexplain and reposition himself all over again.
6 posted on 10/01/2004 12:45:32 PM PDT by counterpunch (The CouNTeRPuNcH Collection - www.counterpunch.us)
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To: HumbleButExceedinglyAccurate

Met with Gorbachev in '85
To talk about how everyone could stay alive
And though he seemed to be a guy with class
If he don't play ball, we'll nuke his ... country.


7 posted on 10/01/2004 12:46:04 PM PDT by HumbleButExceedinglyAccurate
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To: Freepdonia

Yes, he was.

It turned out to be a good thing that C-Span showed the Mondale/Reagan debate again. Much needed perspective was provided. They are airing more footage of debates tomorrow, do not remember which ones. Should be interesting to watch.


8 posted on 10/01/2004 12:49:22 PM PDT by Soul Seeker
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To: West Coast Conservative

The pudits also gave Gore the win the in the first Gore/Bush debate.


9 posted on 10/01/2004 12:51:54 PM PDT by Sleeping Freeper
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Comment #10 Removed by Moderator

To: West Coast Conservative

Thank you!!!!
I needed that!! I am optomistic again!!! I felt so bad for bush!! He is president of our United States!!! He is working overtime right now. Not one news reporter is giving him any credit for being the president. The responsiblily of the job is mind-boggling. He does it so well each and every day! Kerry's only responsibility is to his party!!!!He quit the senate long, long ago!!


11 posted on 10/01/2004 12:55:04 PM PDT by knitmom
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To: West Coast Conservative

That makes me feel better. PLus, W is a FAST learner and the next debate is town hall.

Things are looking UP!


12 posted on 10/01/2004 12:55:55 PM PDT by lawgirl (I like knowing where my President is every night- at home in bed with his wife!)
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To: counterpunch
Kerry...I suspect soon he will find himself having to reexplain and reposition himself all over again

We have the transcript and the garbage Kerry spewed will be dissected like a frog and all of its ugly details (or lack thereof) will be revealed to all.

13 posted on 10/01/2004 12:55:58 PM PDT by frog_jerk_2004
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To: West Coast Conservative

I turned on Hannity a few minutes ago and he was reading an overnight poll....I missed most of it...did anyone hear it?


14 posted on 10/01/2004 12:59:14 PM PDT by mystery-ak (Mr Kerry, how did we ever get along without you?)
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To: West Coast Conservative

Fascinating info.


15 posted on 10/01/2004 12:59:50 PM PDT by rwfromkansas (BYPASS FORCED WEB REGISTRATION! **** http://www.bugmenot.com ****)
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To: Soul Seeker
I felt fine about President Bush's performance yesterday, while I was worried after Reagan's first debate in 1984. IOW, we need to stay calm and remember that the Gipper came back to destroy Mondale.
16 posted on 10/01/2004 1:05:45 PM PDT by Freepdonia (Victory is Ours!)
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To: Freepdonia
IOW, we need to stay calm and remember that the Gipper came back to destroy Mondale.

Did he come back and destroy Mondale? I don't think he did. Remember that Reagan didn't really have to do much; he was so far ahead. Yes, the line about my opponent's "youth and inexperience" was cute, but not the stuff that determines the election winner. The big fear going into that second debate was that Reagan would fall on his face again, and if THAT happened Mondale might have been able to make a real race of it. However, Reagan did fine and his performance was reassuring enough that it shut the door on the only small bit of hope that Mondale had left.

I should also add that Bush totally DESTROYED Ferraro in the VP debate which really stopped any momentum coming from the first Presidential debate.

17 posted on 10/01/2004 1:12:25 PM PDT by PMCarey
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To: HumbleButExceedinglyAccurate

Yes and in the second debate, Reagan made the classic remark "I refuse to make age an issue in this campaign. I will not, for political purposes, exploit my opponent's relative youth and inexperience" or something like that. CLASSIC!


18 posted on 10/01/2004 1:14:15 PM PDT by RockinRight (W stands for whoop-a**!!!)
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To: PMCarey
Did he come back and destroy Mondale?

I was referring to the vote total.
19 posted on 10/01/2004 1:14:34 PM PDT by Freepdonia (Victory is Ours!)
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To: PMCarey

See post 18. Reagan came back in a big way in the second '84 debate.


20 posted on 10/01/2004 1:15:31 PM PDT by RockinRight (W stands for whoop-a**!!!)
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