This editorial is wishful thinking. Just read what our own Republican colleagues said after the debate or what Pat Buchanan said.
If Bush goes on the assumption he came out OK on this debate Kerry will clean his clock in the next two debates.
The only way for him to win is to accept that he needs more prep and needs to control his irritation. This was NOT a good debate performance. PERIOD. Who wrote that editorial? Bob Shrum?
I doubt Bush or his advisors would say he "won" the debate.
But he certainly didn't hand the election to Kerry either.
All this handwringing only helps inflate Kerry's wobbly supporters.
A lot of FR posters remind me of sports fans.