Before the debate I said on this forum that both sides would declare victory, and the media would declare Kerry the winner and say the race is tightening.   Exactly what happened.   So predictable.

The most honest and telling response was on CSPAN who had a camera on Lockhart after the debate. McCoury went to Lockheart and without knowing the cameras were rolling asked what he thougt.   Lockheart responded "We had it as a draw".   That is the only honest response of the evening.

Most polls had Kerry the winner but had almost no change in the polls.   ABC had Kerry the winner of the debate but had the polls at 50% to 46% before the debate and 51% to 47% after the debate.   I guess the big loser was Ralph Nader- he went from 4% to 2%.

More important is the internals of the polls.   What you find in looking is that Kerry won on style and Bush won on subtance.   On issues of leadership, consistency of message (flip flopping) and sincerity Bush landslided Kerry.

There are three elements of the dabate.   The one day reaction, the week reaction and the effect on the polls.    I think Kerry made a number of mistatements which will haunt him this week.   1. Subways closed during RNC concention- not true 2. Never called Bush a liar- he is on record calling bush a Liar on numerous occations 3. The Global standard before going to war   4.   Spent 200 billion on Iraq- only 120 billion- the other 80 is for Afganastan.

The DNC is making a video of Bush facial expressions during debate.   The RNC is making a video of Kerry mistatements during debate.   Which do you thing will play better?

The vast majority of voters are simple people.    I think Bush kept his message simple and pounded it in.   Kerry was more eloquent but all over the place.    We will see which strategy was more successfull.    Last election the polls all had Gore winning the first debate but losing ground in the polls.   Dick Morris made the statement that with more wins like that he would be out of the election.   Should be an interesting week.