We saw it in the primaries, some long time Kerry followers saw it in the race against Weld. We've been told for months that like Bill Clinton was the "Comeback kid", John Kerry is a "strong closer". In the final weeks before an election Kerry starts to leave his opponent in the dust and ride to an eventual victory.
Last night was the beginning of the end for Bush. There was one president on that stage last night and it wasn't the one occupying the Oval Office currently. People watch the debates and project onto the candidates what it will be like to have each one head the executive branch for the next 4 years. John Kerry clearly proved tonight what primary voters meant when they said he was the most "presidential" of the Dem candidates. I'll admit I thought that line was BS at the time, but it certainly didn't sound like BS last night. We saw a man who is smart, who is compassionate, who is tough and most of all we saw a LEADER.
The Repubs will try and spin the next debates as Bush's comeback story. But you can't be someone you aren't on that stage. After 4 years in office Bush can't get by on the "bigotry of low expectations" any more. He's the President, and the American people expect him to know what he's doing. That wasn't the impression I walked away with last night.