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Round 3 Bush vs Kerry

I just returned from watching the debate with nearly 40,000 [update: 44,000] of my good Arizona friends at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix. The huge Republican crowd was quite responsive to the President and predictably negative toward his opponent. Needless to say I heard a good portion of the debate but missed some of Kerry's responses. I don't plan on commenting on the substance of it until later. My initial impression of Bush was that he was fired up, calm and having fun. He was comfortable discussing his faith and his love for his family. Kerry, while confident, assertive and attacking during most of the debate, seemed rather awkward talking about his beliefs and what he has learned from his wife (his wife didn't look very comfortable either). He also made a disastrous blunder by stating that he "married up."

After the debate Bush, McCain, Jon Kyl (R-AZ) and their families stopped by the ballpark and gave a few parting comments to the crowd. While he spoke very positively about the future I don't recall the President mentioning Kerry at all.

Across town in Tempe, Kerry spoke to a smaller yet impressive crowd of about 15,000 [update: 20,000]. In contrast to Bush, the portions of his message that were quoted by the local news were highly critical of the state of the nation and President Bush.

A poll of 3,000 Arizona voters, conducted by CBS News and Cox cable, found that only 3% of respondents modified their vote based on the debate.

Update:

My debate round-up of MSM articles and Conservative and Liberal Bloggers is found here. Take a moment to vote in my online poll to the right. Currently Kerry and Bush are "neck and neck".

Posted by tim at October 13, 2004 10:48 PM

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Giuliani Nears Candidacy, Discusses Abortion (video) - Feb 05, 2007
Will Giuliani Pick a Ginsburg? - Feb 05, 2007
Mitt Romney and the Pro-Life Vote - Feb 02, 2007
Does Giuliani Merit the Pro-Life Vote? - Feb 01, 2007
Napolitano Backs Away from Kerry - Nov 01, 2006
The Troops Respond to Sen. John Kerry - Nov 01, 2006
Failed Statements by Sen. John Kerry - Nov 01, 2006

Comments

I still have not got to watch a single debate this year all the way through. I do know from what I have read who I am voting for and I doubt watching it either way would have changed that. But it is werid that Kerry spends so much time degrading Bush and his side while Bush tends to ignore Kerry.

Posted by: Michele at October 14, 2004 11:28 AM

I thought President Bush won this debate, and I enjoyed watching him. I certainly feel much more comfortable under President Bush's leadership and protection of this country than I would under J. Kerry. I trust our President. He was barely in office when the terrorists hit on 9-11 destroying lives, families, finances, and, Yes, the symbols of our financial world. They effectively dumped our economy - President Bush did not do this - THE TERRORISTS did this- and on purpose. President Bush has worked to improve the economy -successfully. As to job loss - another problem exacerbated by 9-11 - Over 1.9 million new jobs became available. There is still much to be done; Let's let him lead us! As far as Social Security is concerned, I, as a retired citizen who suffered under the leadership of President Clinton's taxation, would have liked very much to have been able to invest part of what was withheld for Social Security. We must try something new in order to save and improve the plan. President Bush has some good sound ideas, and he has my support 100%.

Jolene Atkins

Posted by: Jolene Atkins at October 14, 2004 4:11 PM