Kerry shows steadiness that eluded Gore (USA TODAY)

[henslee]

John Kerry has a reputation, invoked so often that it invites parody, of being a strong closer in his political campaigns. But in Thursday night's first presidential faceoff, Kerry also came across as a strong opener....

http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/columnist/shapiro/2004-10-01-hype_x.htm

[nostalgicaboutmyfutr]

1. the polling info looks good.....

even with Gallup scewing:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/polls/2004-09-30-debate-poll.htm

[Sannum]

2. WOOOOHOOOOO!!!!

nm

[Protagoras]

3. And Gore won by 500K votes

over an unknown but seemingly harmless Chimp.

SCORE!

[Chovexani]

4. He came out swinging

Had * on the defensive the entire time. Kerry showed us the side of him that's the prosecutorial pitbull and didn't let up.

* was peeing his pants the whole time.

[Insomnicole]

5. Great quote:

For Bush, the confrontation with Kerry represented the first time as president that he had been directly challenged in a format that made his rival a political equal.

And it showed, didn't it?

Walter Shapiro's not exactly a liberal, is he? That was a pretty sound piece on Kerry.

:hangover: <----me today

[iowa_democrat]

6. anticipation is killing me

but think what it will do to b*sh. this was his strong suit! Rove juggled the debate topics so "foreign policy" would be the first, and they could put Kerry down so far no one would watch the rest of the debates. Now he has the town hall format on domestic policy to look forward to, with possibly a larger audience and MORE pressure.

Now I see why thy don't let anyone who MIGHT disagree with shrub into his events.

Iowa Democrat

[wabeewoman]

7. Also I'm pleased

at how Kerry's people managed the whole debates. I was agreeing with a lot of armchair quarterbacks about why Kerry's people were allowing this or that. It didn't matter in the end. And I even think its a good think bush is ahead in the polls-gives him just a bit more arrogance and cockiness. Ah what a good night, what a good debate.

[wabeewoman]

8. Also I'm pleased

at how Kerry's people managed the whole debates. I was agreeing with a lot of armchair quarterbacks about why Kerry's people were allowing this or that. It didn't matter in the end. And I even think its a good think bush is ahead in the polls-gives him just a bit more arrogance and cockiness. Ah what a good night, what a good debate.