SurveyUSA has just released
combined results of debate response from a number of states and geographical areas. There is no way to spin this, these numbers are just awesome!
Of the 14 states polled, Kerry beat Bush in 11 of them and tied in 1 (Colorado). Kerry's margin over Bush in selected critical states was:
Pennsylvania: +22%
Florida: +14%
Oregon: +19%
Maine: +18%
Washington: +20%
Arkansas: +12%
Kerry even bested Bush in extremely Bush-friendly Kentucky, 40% to 38%!
The only states in which Bush fared better than Kerry were (predictably) Texas and Oklahoma -- but by surprisingly narrow margins, only +2% and +5% for Bush respectively.
Kerry also did very well in many of the "metro" areas polled, winning Des Monies (IA), Raleigh-Durham (NC), and GOP-friendly Charlotte (NC), to name a few. Good stuff.
Update [2004-10-1 21:12:34 by Federalist]: After looking at the response numbers a little closer, I'd also like to point-out, as some in comments have alluded to, that a higher percentage of people in key swing states watched the debate. Of the states surveyed:
Florida
Pennsylvania
Colorado
Oregon
California
were the only ones where more than 50% of respondents watched the entire debate. Higher interest in the election due to "battleground" status had a lot to do with this I'm sure, but I couldn't think of a much better list of states, of the ones polled, than that to watch Kerry kick Dubya's butt.
[editor's note, by Federalist] scottmaui in comments brings up a simple but great meme for DEMs to tag Bush with that I wanted to bring more attention to:
BROKEN RECORD
...as in doing nothing but repeating old, tired attacks on Kerry during the debate last night, as in repeating "it's hard work" [being President] over and over again, as in stuck in the same old failed Iraq policy...it could go on and on and on, just like a broken record. Bush is, and has, a broken record. Simple, effective, brilliant!