Call me a pessimist, but I have a feeling few watched this debate and most people maintain their impression of the first debate.
In my part of the world, the first two debates (on a Thurs., and on a Fri.,) were on "school activity--generally j.v. or varsity football, respectively--nights". Around here there are no "school activities" on Wednesday nights, because it's church night. However, most folks get home from church by 7:30 p.m. or so were able to see the debate.
Worrywarts all, twenty or so days left, and a lot can happen between now and Nov. 2. The Swiftboat Vet ad is coming out, and today Sinclair was on several tv programs talking about Stolen Honor and really tying Liberals in knots. They were furious that Sinclair won't pull the film altogether or allow Kerry ninety minutes of puffery. Kerry won't even answer Sinclair's invite. That said, Kerry looked tired and desperate. He did well on the whole, but he had to defend tax hikes, socialized medicine and global test. The substance of his remarks is a killer. As Hannity just said, if Kerry were president, Saddam Hussein would still be filling those mass graves.
If we, God forbid, suffer an attack here before the election, it makes the debates moot. All that matters will be GW's reaction, how bad the attack is, the scope, the extent of our anger. Kerry will pontificate about taking action, but nobody will believe him. He'll come out and say, let's go to the UN and beg for mercy. Meanwhile we'll all be foaming at the mouth and calling for a glass parking lot in Mecca. So, we cross our fingers and pray.
There were more watching the first debate but not by much. I'm not watching all of them because I know who I'm voting for.
"Call me a pessimist...."
You are a pessimist, but we still like you.