The Debate

No one in the media is going to go out on a limb and declare that Kerry delivered a "knock-out" punch to Bush during the debate, but if this were a debate contest in front of a panel of judges, it would be clear to me that Kerry "won." Kerry was clearly superior to Bush not only in his addressing the issues posed to him, but also in his personal presentation. When asked questions about the specific issues related to Iraq, or homeland security, or North Korea, he responded for the most part with specific ideas about what he would do, or where exactly Bush has failed. He spoke with "gravitas"(as the pundits are saying), was stern, serious, forceful and commanding, without being overbearing. And he did not make the mistake of belittling Bush's remarks, reacting sarcastically or with inappropriate humor, or giving away his thoughts through inappropriate body language like rolling his eyes, or sighing, or shifting back and forth on his feet. Clearly Kerry displayed that he is in fact a formidable debater. Bush simply did not do as well. When queried specifically regarding how he's dealt with certain issues, he often merely repeated the key phrases of his campaign on being "resolute", or "steadfast" or acting with conviction. He often did not specifically respond to the questions that were posed to him, and at one point he even had no answer to a questions that the moderator Lehrer posed directly to him. His body language, though not so awful as some Democrats have made it out to be, was certainly less disciplined than Kerry's. At times he sniffed, sighed, rolled his eyes, leaned over his podium, betrayed his temper and yes...smirked. It certainly seems that Bush was less prepared for the debate than Kerry was. He seemed to be relying on simply coming into the debate and hammering home the key phrases of his campaign without addressing specifics of foreign policy, and hanging the charge of "flip-flopper" even more securely around Kerry's neck. He certainly failed at the latter. And perhaps he suceeded at the former-he certainly brought up his key phrases often enough-but to what point? I don't think the people watching the debate last night were looking for more campaign soundbites, and the polls afterwards saying Kerry was the winner seem to bear my belief out. I won't say Kerry buried Bush, or "knocked it out of the park." I will say that he demonstrated himself to be the poised, confident and collected leader that he thinks the American people want, and that Democrats believe him to be, and as such he has altered the tone of the campaign. And that, quite simply, is a victory for him.