This one isn't too tough to figure out. Kerry really succeeded at getting the upper hand in a debate that, with the topic on foreign policy, was supposed to give an advantage to Bush . A few instant polls already show a majority of respondents giving Kerry the win tonight. Just on the CBS News website, the online poll shows 91% saying that they think Kerry won. Conservative weblogs are even conceding defeat (although a narrow one).
Bush was on the defensive most of the night. The president's well-known debate style of heavy emphasis on certain important points seemed ineffective as he continuously fell-back on his campaign's ambiguously broad Kerry attack-language in order to dodge the senator's poignant challenges.
For the 18% of voters who say the debates will play a role in determining who they will vote for this year, Kerry's clear superiority should tighten this race back up. For me, i'm officially sold on Kerry's foreign policy agenda. I've favored Kerry's more reasoned approach to foreign policy throughout this campaign. Tonight's debate cements that view. Next up: domestic affairs and the economy. I reluctantly saw Paul Krugman's talk last night here at Davidson and so I have little sympathy right now for liberal economic viewpoints. We'll see how Kerry manages on this more difficult front next week.
This weekend I’m taking the dreaded LSAT and then celebrating appropriately afterwards. I'll be sure to post again within the next week. By the way...the Giants are 2-1.
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