October 09, 2004, 06:30 AM
America sees Kerry for the liberal he is
Last night, I was once again asked to give my instant analysis of Bush-Kerry II, on Channel 2 News, immediately following the debate. I had given my instant review after the first debate and after the V.P. debate on 2.
After the first debate, I was honest and told the audience that Kerry was the clear winner and that the race would tighten. I felt Cheney clearly out-classed Edwards in the second debate. Last night the pressure was clearly on the President. A very well known and high placed source in republican circles called me before the debate last night and told me the party insiders were very nervous. They knew if Bush fell flat again he would be in big trouble.
Despite what some so-called experts said prior to the debate,that the President had to score a knock out win, I felt all the President needed to do was to either tie or slightly win the debate. A tie or slight win would re-establish his grip on the race. He did just that.
The President was more focused and more energized than the first debate. This time it was Kerry who seemed to tire in the last 30 minutes. The President also performed better in this format that allowed him to inter-act with the audience and to move around. Remember the famous scene in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid when Robert Redford is asked to shoot a coin in the dirt? He and Newman were applying for jobs as payroll guards. Redford misses and then asks if he can move. The boss says, “move, what do you want to move for?” Redford, as the Kid, says he shoots better when he moves. The President communicates better when he moves.
The turning point of the debate came at about the 45 minute mark when Bush criticized Kerry for adding a trial attorney to his ticket. It was the first time in the two debates that Bush truly attacked Kerry. After that Bush attacked Kerry as a liberal, actually calling him Kennedy at one point. (easy to see how he could mix those two up isn't it) Those attacks were followed by the key moments in the debates to date.
The audience, who asked some good questions, asked each candidate to talk about stem cell research and the abortion issue. Kerry dodged both questions and sounded like the liberal politician that Bush accused him of being. Bush answered clearly and from the heart. At that moment it was clear to all to see the vast difference between the two; one a striaght talking conservative and the other a slick talking liberal. Kerry lost the debate and any chance for the Presidency at that point.
There are many voters who are not totally happy with the President on a number of issues. However, Kerry leaves those same voters with too much doubt. These voters may consider Kerry, but in the end they will stay with someone they believe is a straight talker and someone, who over-all, they trust. There is simply too much at stake to turn over the oval office to someone that leaves too many questions unanswered for most voters. Kerry showed his true liberal colors last night as he tried to side-step his way around several key issues.
There is one more debate next week. It will focus on domestic issues. It is clear that only two debates are really needed. What else can they say that they haven't already said? Many people will skip watching the last debate. The undecided voters saw enough last night to stay with Bush. The race is over. As I have predicted since Kerry became the nominee, Bush will win with about 54% of the vote and 285-300 electoral votes.
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