posted on October 1, 2004 09:04:56 AM new
US Elections 2004
October 01, 2004
Voters and papers give Kerry the win
By James Mawson, Times Online
John Kerry won the televised debate against President Bush last night, according to focus groups and editorials in the major US newspapers.
However, although the first of four televised meetings was won by Mr Kerry, he failed to land a knock-out punch on Mr Bush before the November election, they concluded.
The New York Times said: "If Americans who tuned into last night's presidential debate were waiting for one of the candidates to catch the other in a fatal error, or leave him stammering, the event was obviously a draw.
"But if the question was whether Senator John Kerry would appear presidential, whether he could present his positions clearly and succinctly and keep President Bush on the defensive when it came to the crucial issue of Iraq, Mr Kerry delivered the goods."
A Gallup poll of 615 registered voters who watched the event found that, irrespective of who they supported, 53 per cent thought Mr Kerry did a better job in the debate. Only 37 per cent picked Mr Bush. The remainder were undecided.
The week before, Gallup had found that 52 per cent supported Mr Bush while 44 per cent preferred Kerry.
In the debate, Senator Kerry created a more favourable impression for 46 per cent of viewers, Gallup said, while Mr Bush created a more positive impression for 21 per cent. The majority, however, were not much changed.
This was broadly the view of the editorials in most US papers. The Los Angeles Times was the most forthright. "Senator John F Kerry won Thursday night's debate on foreign policy by a comfortable margin, but Americans may yet decide that President Bush is better able to clean up the mess he created in Iraq."
The Gallup survey found almost no change in the candidates' respective standings. President Bush had 54 per cent of voters' support for the way he would handle Iraq, the same percentage as after the debate. Senator Kerry gained slightly, up from 40 per cent to 43 per cent.
The Washington Post said that the candidates differed more on past actions than future plans. "Mr Bush stoutly defended his decision to go to war; Mr Kerry forcefully criticised that decision and the war's management and offered himself as a more competent commander in chief.
"But Mr Kerry had a more complicated position to defend, and it showed at times. He called the war a mistake and a diversion [from Afghanistan and the war against al-Qaeda], but later said that American soldiers were not dying for a mistake."
The Post ended its editorial by saying: "Both performed credibly enough to keep voters tuned in for the next debate."
USA Today declined to give an answer to its readers on who won, but seemed to come down on the side of Mr Kerry. It said: "In shorthand, the choice is this: A President who will act independently and quickly, even at the risk of alienating allies or making a grievous mistake. Or one who will proceed more deliberately in concert with allies, potentially at the price of missing a crucial opportunity."
posted on October 1, 2004 12:15:46 PM new
If there is a tie I think Bush and Kerry should go head to head in a wrestling match on TV like Tonya Harding and Paula Jones did.
posted on October 1, 2004 02:16:12 PM new
Whoops! Actually it was a boxing match.
Teresa and Laura could do the same thing. Teresa could be the bad girl in black and Laura could be the good girl in white or some pastel color. With all the bashing and mud slinging and focusing on looks instead of issues for the past while it seems that some day it may come to that.
posted on October 1, 2004 03:29:13 PM new
crowfarm,Reamond, for months and months the bush supports on this board have been blowing smoke. They lie they twist words and do anything they can to cover up for their failed leaders Bush/Cheney. I don't believe these smoke blowers really believe Bush/Cheney are good for America. I believe the smoke blowers are covering for bush/cheney because they find bush/cheney good for greedy personal reasons, not what's good for America. Now that Kerry is blowing the smoke off of bush/cheney and exposing them for what they really are. The smoke blowers on this board don't have much left to say. Not only did Kerry blow the smoke off bush last night he also put out the fire of most the smoke blowers around here. What Kerry did last night is good for America not just the greedy self serving America.
posted on October 1, 2004 03:34:54 PM new
I think you're right, Bigpeepa.... linda, the most vociferous, has not answered a single post except to repeat and repeat the same old same old.
Talk about somebody living in a dream world.
She's totally out of touch with reality.
She can't answer even one of my posts because her twisted thinking can't handle truth or logic. So sad.
posted on October 1, 2004 04:30:02 PM new
all you idiots out there,do you think you can choose a leader just by a 2 minutes respone??
-sig file -------Life is one big happy 'All You Can Eat' buffet .
posted on October 1, 2004 05:42:29 PM new
stopwhining, my choice has been John Kerry for months. I am not an idiot but you can call me one if it make you feel better about the debate last night.
posted on October 2, 2004 05:59:45 AM new
i watched part of it,it is pathetic that the candidates have to go thru this dog and pony show!!
-sig file -------Life is one big happy 'All You Can Eat' buffet .
