Posted on 10/01/2004 5:27:42 PM PDT by ambrose
Polls Give Debate to Kerry, But Does It Matter?
By Dave Evans
(New York-WABC, October 1, 2004) — After Thursday night's debate in Miami, Democrats were ecstatic -- their candidate did well.
But will it make it difference? Can Kerry close that gap in the polls with only 32 days left?
Our polls show what just about every other poll across the country is showing -- that Kerry won Thursday night's debate in Miami.
But if you ask those same voters if it changed their vote, most say no -- it didn't. So Senator Kerry still has plenty of work ahead, and two more debates to try to close the sale.
Rep. Robert Menendez, (D) New Jersey: "This election is far from over. The American people are going to decide on election day who gets elected. And as I travel the country as chairman of the Democratic Caucus in the House, the American people want to see change in this country."
Friday as the president campaigned in Pennsylvania, Republicans said Bush earned debate points by sharing his personal grief over having to go to war.
Dan Bartlett, White House Communications Director: "And I think he spoke from the heart. He spoke from strength about the necessity of our country to fight the terrorists over there so we don't have to face them here at home."
President George W. Bush, From Debate: "First of all what my opponent wants you to forget is he voted to authorize the use of force, and he now says it's the wrong war, at the wrong time, at the wrong place."
Bush also stayed on message Thursday night, again and again attempting to paint his opponent as inconsistent. But the image voters may remember most is that Bush at times looked angry.
Norman Adler, Political Consultant: "But in cut-aways the President at points he smirked, he had a doubtful look on his face. He screwed up his face a little bit and that wasn't good."
While Democrats are rejoicing that most polls declared Kerry the victor Thursday night, Bush can take heart in the fact that debates quite often don't make much of a difference.
Remember, Perot was declared the winner in his 92 debate, and voters said Dukakis did well. Same thing with Al Gore, at least in the first debate in 2000. And all of them lost.
So Kerry still has a lot of work to do, but at least he's now shown he can certainly hold his own with the President of the United States.
Senator John Kerry, (D) Presidential Candidate: "This president has made a I regret to say a colossal error in judgment."
We won't know for several days whether Kerry's performance Thursday night changed anything, whether undecided voters may be moving his way now.
But back in 1980 when Ronald Reagan uttered that line, "Are you better off than you were four years ago?" he got a 7-point bump from that debate. Also the Kennedy-Nixon debate in 1960 certainly made a difference.
He's Presidential enough for me Jorge.
You need some R&R on Staten Island.
Of course it matters. Every vote matters. Bush can't afford another close race. We can't have another 4 years of hanging chads and disenfranchised voters.
Not sure who prepped the President but they didn't do a very good job.
no he is not...
Exactly.
Candidates don't often get all the opportunities Bush had last night to put Kerry away..and Bush missed them all.
I think this was a big mistake.
The President is honest. He's got a great team and doesn't really care if the socialist governments go along with us or not. Now that Oil for Food details are coming out, it seems that was the correct call all along.
"yes he is that....
that could also explain why the President got a bit miffed at him a few times...
but those facial expressions are priceless....it shows that the President is a human being and even that connects on an emotional level with the viewers...Kerry likes to talk over everyone and that isnt a good thing when you are trying to swing the common (probably his term as we are all commoners to him) viewer..."
President Bush did a good job last night, not his best but but he is only human. How long could anyone sit and listen to the CRAPOLA spewing out of Kerry's mouth last night and not at least feel and look a little bit miffed. This country is at war with a ruthless enemy, and Kerry is acting like it's 1971 all over again. Kerry lied about calling Bush a liar, was arrogant & condescending. Bush is the real deal.
Didn't change my vote...I don't care if Kerry stands on his orange gumby head up on that stage sings God Bless American and sh*ts gold nickles....he is still a low life, slimmy sneakin, lieing snake in the grass. And anyone stupid enough to vote for him is pretty much of the same character as far as I am concerned. Birds of a feather flock together. "A double minded man is UNSTABLE in ALL his ways!!!!"
Well, you're a bit harsh. But, if Bush turns in the same lackluster performance next Friday, he is going to be in serious trouble.
while Kerry got a manicure, and primped his
hair...Kerry is a poof.
****
Don't forget the new paint job. Guess he wanted to look like a road cone.
I would have been, which is why I didnt watch it.
as your name says, John Kerry sucks....
Bump to serve November crow...
Some here want to focus on performance because they believe it is the most imporant aspect capable of affecting the direction of voters.
I disagree. I believe it's substance, but have concluded they are going to end up being right if we further engage in discussing Style.
Time to start breaking down Kerry's failures in substance during this debate.
Points like Kerry suggesting we might have found evidence of the WMD's if we'd better guarded nuclear facilities!! I thought WMD's never existed, yet he just admitted the possibility!
Well, I disagree. Last night WAS an important game and I feel bad that we lost. I'm not saying we are going to lose the election and I agree Kerry did not perform a knockout. However, we still lost and I don't like losing especially to the Dems.
yes we can
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