DEBATE WRAP-UP
I decided to wait until morning to blog the debate so that I could get a feel for what most of the pajama people and the MSM thought about it. (This is really amazing because you’d be surprised how much agreement is out there). I don’t know if this is due to people reinforcing one another’s position or whether independent viewpoints tend to converge. Whatever the reason the consensus seems to be as follows:
1. Kerry won. Not by a lot but by enough that he will probably get a bounce out of this. Bushteam must counter this QUICKLY before the snowball starts to roll downhill and Kerry gets momentum. If that happens, expectations skyrocket for second debate for Bush. I think he’ll do better in townhall forum…maybe even decisvely.
2. Kerry didn’t contradict himself…remains to be seen if he can keep this up for more than 24 hours…Bushteam should be ready to pounce if he strays.
3. Bush looked “mad” or “annoyed.” I don’t know how that will play. Being less than 90 miles from Peoria, I think the effect will be more subconcious and add to the impression that Kerry looked Presidential.
4.Bush got a few good zingers in re: Kerry flip flops…especially when talking about $87 billion and Kerry’s vote to go to war. Kerry’s problem outlined by Dick Morris is that he can’t defend BOTH voting to go to war AND opposing it. The basic incoherence of this position may not be obvious but contributes to impression of Kerry as indecisive.
Gallup says Kerry won…but internals are VERY interesting. Bush still WAY up in who could handle Iraq (54-43) and likability…and undecideds went 10% for Kerry and 12% for Bush! These numbers could change in 24-48 hours-which is why Bushteam must blanket airwaves with quotes from debate vs. Kerry quotes from campaign that show him flip flopping.
All in all, best debate I’ve seen since Carter-Reagan in 1980. Much more substantive than 2000 and, for once, neither candidate made any huge gaffes that will be replayed over and over on MSM.
UPDATE: Funny cartoon here.
Looks like Kerry’s comment about preemption having to pass some sort of nebulous “global test” may come back to haunt him. If we don’t see some sort of campaign commercial from Bushteam in next 72 hours with that sound bit in it, they’ll have missed a golden opportunity.