The consensus seems to be that Kerry won the debate last night--and with good reason. Kerry projected an air of confidence, strength and calm that should help him get over the hump as an alternative to Bush. He articulated his position on Iraq clearly and his criticism of Bush was sharp without coming off as mean or pedantic. In a nod to the press and pundits, who seem to hate polysyllabic words and sound grammatical structure as much as the president, Kerry spoke clearly and as simply as I believe he possible can. He avoided any gestures or verbal gaffes that could be parodied later, as happened to Gore in 2000. Kerry was also able to effectively his message of a "fresh start" in Iraq. There were no masterful strokes, but Kerry definitely helped himself. This performance should give his campaign the momentum it has needed for some time.
Bush, on the other hand, underperformed even by the low standards already set for him. His body language was offputting; he kept hunching over the podium and shifting uncomfortably from side to side while Kerry spoke. He seemed rattled by Kerry's attacks, and when he replied he seemed angry and incoherent (no news there, I know). His brain freezes were unusually long, even for him. His answers became unusually repetitive as the debate wore on, again, even for him.
Then there's the mouth thing. This is a facial tick I've never seen on him before. We know the smirk, the squinty eyes, etc. but this is new and a little disturbing. It's not just me: Kos noticed it as well. This is just the kind of thing SNL lives for--look for them to make something of it this coming Saturday on their season premiere.
Perhaps more importantly, Bush didn't project the air of strength and confidence that has made him popular with many Americans. The public last night saw a president that was shaky, tense, and not in control. Side by side on the stage, Kerry looked...well...what's the word I'm looking for...ah, yes--PRESIDENTIAL.
-- Originally posted on Another Liberal Blog