I know it's early, but I'm finding myself pondering what a Bush/Kerry matchup will look like. It seems that the presidential race is so often defined in the debates. With Reagan's "There you go again" remark in '80. And then in the '84 debate, when asked if age would be an issue in the campaign, he replied that he would not allow his opponent's "youth and inexperience" to become a campaign issue. Mondale later said in an interview that it was at that moment he knew he had lost the election. Then in '88, in a death penalty question, Dukakis was asked about what he would do if his wife was raped and murdered, and his cold response cost him a lot of points. (When Kerry was asked this same basic question in a senate debate with William Weld, he replied, "I know something about killing. I've killed people. And I don't like it.") My personal favorite though was the '88 vice presidential debate: "I knew Jack Kennedy. I was friends with Jack Kennedy. And senator, you're no Jack Kennedy!" Where's Bentsen when you need him?
It was also fun watching Clinton school Bush I. Another defining moment in that debate was when Bush looked at this watch. It was such a slight, insignificant act, but it seemed to somehow embody his entire campaign, which was ticking its way towards defeat.
1996 had a fun exchange between Dole and Clinton --
Dole: You should have just said no comment.
Clinton: No comment.
2000 was a major disappointment all the way around. All I remember from those debates were Al Gore's "lock box."
So... take the poll, and leave a comment on what you hope to see for Bush v Kerry. And predict what the most memorable moment will be.