Posted on 10/14/2004 2:31:38 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Perhaps fittingly, for a campaign that's essentially tied, President Bush and Sen. John Kerry held each other off in their third and final debate last night.
Bush, his lead in the polls erased since the debates began, forcefully defended the record of his presidency as he turned in his strongest showing of the series.
Kerry, who has gained stature and support through his debate performances, was substantive and, at times, eloquent. But he was unable to establish a clear advantage over Bush, as he had in their earlier confrontations.
For two opposing candidates in a "bitterly divided" time, as Bush described it last night, they have much in common. Sons of privileged Eastern families, they attended the same college and were even members of the same elite club there.
On stage last night at Arizona State University, they showed up in identical political attire: dark business suits and red power ties. But beyond the superficial similarities, they were a study in contrasts.
The sunny personality that has won Bush votes and boosted his popularity over the years made a surprise comeback. Smiling all the way, he repeatedly attacked Kerry's record as a senator and his statements as a candidate, as the president sought to convince voters that the Democrat is out of the mainstream.
Kerry, serious and businesslike, seldom smiled. Particularly in comparison with Bush, his demeanor was much closer to the studious, cerebral style for which he is known.
Both men directed their remarks, at various times, to key voter groups, either in their base or in that dwindling band in the middle that holds the key to the Nov. 2 election, including women, veterans, Roman Catholics, seniors, young people and gun owners.
(Excerpt) Read more at baltimoresun.com ...
Now it's a race to the finish. If there is a Republican card to be played, play it now, please.
Suuuuuureeeeeeee.... Ketchup Boy lost! They're too disappointed to acknowledge it was a disaster.
this is absolutely untrue! skerrycrow smiled and laughed on a NUMBER of occasions! moreso than i have ever seen him! he just looked so CREEPY when he did that this writer does not want to actually SAY that was a smile because it's so condescending and artificial...NO CORE!!
Yes. I think we're ALL glad they're over.
The left was busy yesterday promoting the idea that if Bush lost "again" the election was Kerry's.
From the news this morning, I'd know Bush won with out having watched it, for them to call it a draw.
Bump!
"Bush, his lead in the polls erased since the debates began"
Lies. Bush is still ahead in most of the national polls, and all the Electoral College Projections I've seen except Zogby.
If they wanted to actually be accurate rather than pimp Kerry, they would say Bush's lead has been REDUCED.
Bump!
Kerry has a plan.....Paris Leads All Now.....
They obviously missed his lame attempt at humor near the end, where he said that the moderator, Bush and himself all had something in common - they had all "married up", and he probably more so than the others, but he "was all right with that" and he giggled like a school girl.
One BIG card was played last night, and kerry had his hat handed to him. Bush won the election last night, just like he sealed the deal in 2000. We will win by a larger margin this time.
The best is yet to come. BE PATIENT! Savor each victory. At this level of the "game" there are not many!
LLS
What's that saying?
The Baltimore Sun watched a different debate than the one most of us watched. Bush thrashed Kerry in a very convincing manner.
The debates, IMHO, accomplished one thing and that was to allow the media an opportunity to spin for their candidate. None of the debates provided new information on either candidate. What was known about them before the debates is what we know about them after the debates. In future presidential debates the buzzer ought to be wired to a lie detecter machine......
Thanks for the link.
Which means that President Bush won hands down.
Of course,if they had been actual debates, he would have won "debates" one and two also.
When exactly did the consensus that Kerry won the 2nd debate form? I had never heard anyone, other than Mc Awful and Cahill claim that before last night. All the news reports after the town hall were something to the effect that the format suited bush better and he probably was the winner. Then, during last night’s post debate analysis, all the talking heads everywhere were proclaiming Kerry’s victory in round 2 as a well known fact. What did I miss?
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