Stylistically, Bush could have looked better. Sadly, many voters make their judgements on shallow stuff like that.
For the next debate, Bush should look refreshed. Bush should be genuine like he was tonight, but should be sharper. I do worry about the next two debates. The ad war and the ground game is going to be critical.
The MSM is the biggest obstacle. The ads are indeed going seriously negative on both sides now. The dems have been doing it for what seems like two years now.
Indeed Bush needs to correct the errors of the first debate. I think he will, in fact, based on past performances he is better when under the gun.
The real problem I have is the expectation game.
I firmly believe that many repubs have too high of a expectation going into the first debate and are now so deflated. It irritates me.
Kerry is a master debater. (there is a joke in there some where) He rarely answers direct questions and spins like a top, changes direction and launches an attack on a second subject or issue.
Bush discovered this although I am sure that people tried to tell him and it caused him to begin to shut Kerry's words out and respond in anger.
I really don't think that anyone else would NOT do the same. Governor Weld said he fell for it as well and never found a way to defeat it.
Bush needs to maintain his cool and not react emotionally to the crap that is intended to do exactly that. I do not think he can put Kerry away, but he does not need to.
He only needs to win again on substance and this time not lose anything regarding mannerisms or loss of concentration.
Kerry is a slippery as black ice and he knows it. Kerry made many openings that Bush could not take advantage of because he was knocked off balance.
Had he taken advantage of some of these Kerry mistakes the outcome would have been different.
But, I do not expect anything like a blow out. I know Bush can hold his own from now on. That is all I expect from him.