Post-Debate Polls Favor Kerry.

CORAL GABLES, Fla. - President Bush (news - web sites) and Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites) rushed back to the campaign trail Friday to try to convince voters they had won their debate over foreign policy and to continue the argument over whether going to war in Iraq (news - web sites) had made the nation safer. Three post-debate polls suggested voters who watched the policy-driven confrontation Thursday night were impressed by Kerry, with most of those surveyed saying he did better than Bush.

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Kerry's running mate, Sen. John Edwards (news - web sites), said Friday he told Kerry after the debate "I think people saw the next commander in chief," and he criticized Bush for failing to acknowledge problems in Iraq. "You can't fix a problem if you're not willing to admit that mistakes have been made and that you have a problem," he told ABC's "Good Morning America."

Bush, however, "felt great" about his performance Thursday night and believed he had articulated the strategy and resolve with which he is fighting the war on terror, White House communications director Dan Bartlett said. "I think he spoke from the heart, spoke with strength about the necessity for our country to fight the terrorists over there so we don't have to face them here at home," Bartlett told ABC. "He had a good time last night."

Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record), the Arizona Republican who informally advised Bush on how to debate his friend and Senate colleague, told reporters in Miami on Friday that the debate was probably Kerry's "brightest moment" in the last six weeks. "He presented himself well, John did," McCain said. "Kerry came out slugging."

From the first question, Kerry went on the offensive, accusing Bush of leaving U.S. alliances around the world "in shatters" and later calling Iraq "this incredible mess." Bush noted that Kerry voted to authorize the same war he now criticizes. "That's not how a commander in chief acts," Bush charged.

Less than five weeks before the election, Iraq dominated the debate on a day when a string of bombs killed 35 children and wounded scores of others in western Baghdad. Overall, more than 1,000 U.S. soldiers have died in Iraq.

Kerry summed up Bush's strategy for Iraq as "more of the same" and added: "This president has made, I regret to say, a colossal error of judgment. And judgment is what we look for in the president of the United States of America."

Bush acknowledged that not every American agrees with the decisions he's made. "But people know where I stand," Bush said, suggesting they don't know where Kerry stands. "People out there listening know what I believe."

From Florida, Bush was heading out Friday to rallies in Pennsylvania and New Hampshire, two key battleground states. Kerry was spending the day campaigning in Florida, where the presidential race was decided four years ago.

In Thursday night's encounter at the University of Miami, Bush and Kerry drew heavily on oft-repeated lines from their campaign speeches but they faced each other directly across the same stage for the first time.

Bush appeared irritated when Kerry leveled some of his charges, scowling at times and looking away in apparent disgust at others. Kerry often took notes when the president spoke. The television networks offered a split screen to viewers so they could see both men at the same time and watch their reactions.

On Iraq, Bush criticized Kerry for saying it was the wrong war at the wrong time in the wrong place. "What message does that send to our troops?" the president said. "Not a message a commander in chief gives."

Repeating a line he has used countless times to show his opponent is inconsistent, Bush tweaked Kerry for saying he voted for an $87 billion spending bill for Iraq and Afghanistan (news - web sites) before he voted against it.

Kerry shot back, "Well, you know, when I talked bout the $87 billion, I made a mistake in how I talk about the war. But the president made a mistake in invading Iraq. Which is worse?"

Trying to persuade voters that he is tough enough to be commander in chief, Kerry said, "I believe in being strong and resolute and determined. And I will hunt down and kill the terrorists, wherever they are." He said that Bush, in invading Iraq, lost sight of the goal of capturing terrorist leader Osama bin Laden (news - web sites).

But Bush insisted that "the world is safer without Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)." He called Iraq "a central part in the war on terror" and said 75 percent of bin Laden's leadership had been brought to justice.

Trying to turn Kerry's criticism against him, Bush said, "I understand what it means to be the commander in chief. And if I were to ever say, 'This is the wrong war at the wrong time at the wrong place,' the troops would wonder, 'How can I follow this guy?'"

Kerry said Bush failed to exhaust diplomatic solutions before ordering the invasion of Iraq and that the United States was left with 90 percent of the cost and 90 percent of the casualties. "Now we have this incredible mess in Iraq — $200 billion," Kerry charged. "It's not what the American people thought they were getting when they voted."

Bush ridiculed his opponent, saying he denigrated U.S. allies in the war, voted against the $87 billion measure to aid Afghanistan and Iraq and sent mixed signals. To Kerry's contention that he could summon broader international support for the war, Bush said, "They're not going to follow someone whose core convictions keep changing because of politics."

While Iraq was the dominant issue in the debate, there were notable differences on North Korea (news - web sites) and Iran, two nations suspected of pursuing nuclear weapons programs. Kerry urged that the United States hold direct bilateral talks with North Korea, but Bush called Kerry's proposal "a big mistake" that would crush multinational talks and remove pressure from China on North Korea. Kerry said North Korea has amassed more nuclear weapons during Bush's administration.

On Iran, Kerry said the United States should have worked with allies like France, Germany and Britain to impose

I spoke to liberal guys here in my office in New York City and they said Kerry did an okay job BUT and this is a BIG BUT - HE HAS NOT GIVEN ANY NEW PLAN FOR IRAQ! They were very disappointed in Kerry.

"Kerry shot back, "Well, you know, when I talked bout the $87 billion, I made a mistake in how I talk about the war. But the president made a mistake in invading Iraq. Which is worse?"

What's worse is how kerry actually voted, that is against supporting our troops in the field.

Life is not a debate club, rhetorical flourishes not backed up in the real world are worse that meaningless, they're deadly.

There you go; you get the bigger picture. :) Remember, Libs do not recall the past; they live only in the "present"; and so many libs are feeling quite content this morning. And I can hardly wait for the next shoe; once liberals feel "gloatish" they tend to really insert big feet into their mouths. It's a comin'...

White House communications director Dan Bartlett said. "I think he spoke from the heart,

Just as I suspected. This low key Bush was part of the plan.

Bush has his base tied up. The voters not voting for him are touchy, feely, emotional types that are voting against Bush rather than for him. For Bush to get these votes he must shed his shoot from the hip, gun them all down persona.

Bush isn't going to lose those who support his stand in Iraq but Kerry can lose those who are voting against Bush but not for Kerry. In other words, Bush wins by losing.

"Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record), the Arizona Republican who informally advised Bush on how to debate his friend and Senate colleague, told reporters in Miami on Friday that the debate was probably Kerry's "brightest moment" in the last six weeks. "He presented himself well, John did," McCain said. "Kerry came out slugging."

This is absurd. McCain clearly favored Bush's performance and stated so repetitively. The media took the one snippet of positive news he mentioned about Kerry and neglected all the praise he had for Bush's performance. I am confident that the Bush team is going to counter all the media bias and use Kerry's own words against him in the upcoming weeks.

I liked how when the discussion was on North Korea and whether unilateral or multilateral talks would be more effective Kerry's response was that he want BOTH.

All I can say is my town paper opinion site was BRUTAL to W....I'm just heart sick...W had MANY opportunities to put this jerk away once and for all and he messed up it...ROYALLY! Those few that were undecided are now leaning to LURCH..
We had the RATS right where we wanted them..DEMORALIZED, unfortunately Lurch lit a fire in these idiots. Kerry's polls will most likely go up in the states that Bush was making inroads...
Hopefully W can do better in the next debate. The stuttering KILLED HIM! Don't flame the messenger I'm just doing my PJ duty reporting what my local rag said!

Those few that were undecided are now leaning to LURCH.

Actually on Fox and Friends this morning they did a poll and they said that in the undecideds 10% are leaning towards Kerry and 12% are leaning towards Bush. So its not as bad as your paper is saying.

Sorry to post out of subject, but I have been bookmarking a number of good post debate articles such as this one and I can`t seem to access them, can anyone help? How do you get to your bookmarks, I need these talking points to write some letters to editors using these click any help is welcome, thanks.

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