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Somewhat taken aback, Wallace asked: "You're going to turn a question about your husband's health into spin?" A flustered Clinton replied, "You know - I can't - ah, ah - I think that, ah - you asked me - because I think I would have worried if John hadn't done so well."

Please bear with me,I have never posted anything before.I hope this is O.K..I have a question? I found it very odd that when Kerry was talking about eliminating tax cuts for people with incomes over $200.000.,he looked out at the audience and stated I can tell by looking out at you that this would only affect me,the Presdent and Charly.Did he imply these people look poor or middle class?If that isn't labeling I don't know what is.I was insulted by his comment.DO you agree?

Rumours have been, that there is a force out there created by the Democratic National Committee, encouraging (strongly), Democrats to manipulate internet polls, immediately after the debates. This strategy seems to be working, and the left-leaning media, continues to report their "un-scientic" polls (as they call them) without dismissing them as they should. Even smaller political websites, such as www.rightliner.com, have been influenced dramatically, along with msnbc.com, cnn.com, etc. It is possible that an impression might be made by the left, that Kerry is in fact winning these debates - overwhelmingly, while in fact not doing so at all. This...

Bush Excels in Second Debate By JENNIFER LOVEN and MARY DALRYMPLE, Associated Press Writers ELYRIA, Ohio - No longer face to face but just as feisty, President Bush and Sen. John Kerry took their rolling argument on Iraq and the economy to more Midwest battleground states Saturday and chided each other for not being upfront with American voters. In Waterloo, Iowa, Bush ridiculed Kerry's claim not to have changed positions on the war in Iraq and contended the Democrat's statements about Iraq, health care and taxes "don't pass the credibility test." "With a straight face, he said, 'I have only...

Senator Kerry started where he left off in the first debate. He was aggressive with the president, standing and addressing him directly. And President Bush was much better, much more assured, much more presidential. He managed to control his temper and state his arguments more directly and clearly. Polls show that John Kerry's strong performance in the first debate have allowed him to close the gap with President Bush, and the second, more evenly matched, debate will keep the race close going into the last head-to-head next week. President Bush turned in a performance that will reassure and re-energise his...

In the wake of last night's total decapitation of Senator ("When He Choses to Be") Kerry, President Bush not only reassured all his supporters, but moved many from the fence. The natural question is, "Why didn't he do this in the first debate?" That has, indeed, puzzled me. Now I think I understand what happened, although I continue to maintain a "kook" theory as at least part of what had happened. First, the reality: I don't think either Karl Rove or George W. Bush really took John Kerry seriously when he announced his "new" campaign strategy of attacking him on...

ST. LOUIS - Washington University again became a living lesson in democracy Friday, hosting its third presidential debate in a dozen years. The campus was alive with protesters and backers of both candidates. Classes at the tree-lined, hilltop school gave way to the glaring spotlight of a nationally televised matchup between President Bush and Sen. John Kerry - and the security lockdown that came with it. Streets around much of the campus were barricaded and guarded by police, including two dozen in riot gear near where hundreds of placard-waving protesters massed. Protesters had no direct path to the school's athletic...

On who can better handle the issues of terrorism and Iraq, viewers moved more toward Bush than Kerry after the debate... ...Viewers also gave increased support to Bush on terrorism, initially favoring the president by 52% to 45%, but favoring him by an even larger margin after the debate, 56% to 39%.

Editor’s Note: This is the second of The Mercury’s visits to local homes watching the presidential debates. Last week, we visited a household supporting the Democratic candidate. This week, we visited a household supporting the Republican. DOUGLASS (Mont.) -- It is President George W. Bush’s stand on security and the war on terror that stands out as the defining reason those gathered around Ray Chernasky’s television Friday cheered when Bush said "our plan is working and Iraq is better off for it." The collection of 21 enthusiastic supporters, mostly neighbors, watched the second "town hall style" presidential debate in St....

Last night, President George W. Bush brought the L-word out of the closet. He pointed out that Senator Kerry has been named the most liberal senator on Capitol Hill. Kerry lurched to his feet, and stated, "Let's stay away from labels. Labels don't mean anything." I would like to rebut that statement. Since the dawn of humanity, men found labels necessary to communication. The sentences, "There is a large four-legged furry being with retractable claws and extremely long teeth behind you. This is one of those beings that tends to eat those that are two-legged." would likely take too long,...

Here is the simplest way to figure out who won the debate last night: When you went to bed, were you thinking more about Bush or Kerry? I was concentrating on the president. I kept thinking about the way he was yelling through the first half of the debate. I couldn't get the picture of him during the cutaway shots out of my head--that blinking blank face, obviously trying hard not to make any of those funny expressions from the first debate. And as I dozed off, I couldn't believe that in the postdebate coverage that I monitored across the...

Bush, Kerry hit the campaign trail after debate ends in draw WASHINGTON, Oct 9 (AFP) - The US presidential rivals hit the campaign trail running Saturday, fervently courting voters in battleground states after their hard-fought second debate left the race for the White House tighter than ever. President George W. Bush was set to stump in three midwestern states -- Missouri, Iowa and Minnesota -- while his Democratic challenger John Kerry was scheduled to campaign in the key states of Ohio and Florida. Immediately afterwards, the two were to cloister themselves once again to prepare for their third and final...

(CBS) News Analysis By David Paul Kuhn, CBSNews.com Chief Political Writer In September, President Bush looked almost unbeatable. Ohio was firmly in his corner and fervently Democratic New Jersey was actually polling even. That was September. Two presidential debates later, Kerry has caught up. A blanket finish is seemingly assured. What happened in 180 minutes of debate? Kerry defined himself for the first time. After an insubstantial Democratic convention, after an August of Republican attack ads that damaged his perceived character, Kerry stood before America and appeared a composed man in command of his views. “There is movement in Ohio...

I've borrowed the metaphor of a ninth-inning rally to describe the Democrats' October comeback. In the first presidential debate, John Kerry got the lead-off hit. In the vice-presidential encounter Tuesday night, John Edwards singled him to third. I guess they substituted a pinch runner (that's the problem with metaphors), because tonight Kerry was back at the plate. It was a long at-bat, with lots of hanging sliders thrown by President Bush. Kerry fouled off a few, whiffed a couple, and struck out looking. Bush did well. He botched a few answers—at one point, he said our military should be "more...

Pundits see Bush win in second debate By James G. Lakely THE WASHINGTON TIMES President Bush last night forcefully articulated his stance on the war on terror and portrayed Sen. John Kerry as incapable of consistent leadership, rebounding from his poor performance in the first debate to show the steadfastness analysts say swing voters will respond to positively. "I think Bush killed him," said political consultant Dick Morris, who helped steer Democratic President Clinton to two terms. "Bush came out aggressive. He clearly won the exchanges on Iraq and he even won the domestic debate.

Fierce from the outset, Sen. John Kerry and President Bush pulled few punches in their second debate Friday night in St. Louis. Experts interviewed immediately following the head-to-head contest spoke to the style, the nuance of character and the unspoken gestures that often sway voters. Though Mr. Bush was more composed than in last week's first presidential debate, all agreed his tone was sometimes antagonistic and he again appeared uncomfortable being challenged. Kerry, on the other hand, was viewed as measured and articulate. However, none of the experts touted a clear winner. “Bush was aggressive now and then," said James...

John Kerry proved tonight that he is a steady, glib, and adept debater who offers a fare of wonkish, comprehensive answers ad nauseam that can awe an off-guard opponent buried beneath facts, Clinton-like instant recall, and classical Ciceronian rhetorical skills. Indeed, we saw all that in the first debate against a dazed George Bush. But by now Kerry is beginning to wear poorly, especially against a spirited and engaged candidate—such as George Bush revealed himself tonight as an opponent full of passion, ideals, and fight. As the night wore on Bush seemed the more human, the more real, Kerry the...

The second presidential debate turned into a bare-knuckle battle for the White House last night, with George Bush and John Kerry dropping all pretence at civility as they savaged each other's records. In an encounter that bristled with animosity, both candidates were on almost constant attack, setting out sharply opposing positions from Iraq to the economy, supreme court judges, abortion, and the environment. Last night's debate - the second of three encounters - caps a difficult week for Mr Bush, with opinion polls showing a tightening of the race for the White House after his lacklustre performance in last week's...

THE KERRY vs. BUSH DEBATE by: Chris Bjornberg I finally had time to listen to the tape of the debate. Kerry continually repeated the mantra, "I can do it better." Bush has caught 75% of the Al Quida terrorists and has them in prison. Pakistan is catching terrorist leaders. Even Yemen is supporting us and gave the death penalty to two terrorists who bombed the U.S.S. Cole. How's Kerry going to do better? Oh, maybe he'll claim our troops were cutting off Iraqi's ears and raping women. Kerry has continually voted over the years to cut funding to the CIA,...

There's no point in doing a little political punditry in the October of an election year without going way out on a limb, so here goes: As I smelled it, the most important thing that happened in the second presidential debate is that George W. Bush lost a good chunk of the women's vote. He's been ahead, you know, among large blocs of women. If you take away black women, who appear to vote more based on their race than their sex (and thus vote heavily Democratic), Bush leads John Kerry among women. The media have made great hoo-ha lately...