It should be obvious that the Repubs will not wait for the debate to spin it. After all, if we have learned anything, it is that Bush operations have nothing to do with pesky (or liberal) facts.
Bush campaign dude Matthew Dowd is saying "'John Kerry's task is heavy' and he would have 90 minutes to do what he had not managed in two years of campaigning." (per Reuters)
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=615&e=1&u=/nm/20040929/pl_nm/campaign_dc
Expect the Repubs to start saying, even before the debate is over, that Kerry did not make his case as to why he should replace the worst President in anyone's memory. It doesn't matter what happens - how stupid Bush is, how out of touch he is, how obvious makes it that we are on the wrong track with this guy, or how much sense Kerry makes. The Repubs want you to think this is over.
Do whatever you can (e.g. Join the Kerry Mediacorps or write a letter to the editor, get pissed and do some canvassing).
No one said this would be easy.