EMPE, Ariz., Oct. 13 - For the third and final presidential debate, President Bush had his game face on, and his game face turned out to be a big smile.
Having put a second term at risk by scowling and seeming weary through the first debate; having reassured supporters but done little to attract independent voters - and particularly women - with a passionate, arm-waving performance in the second, Mr. Bush chose Wednesday night to put on a happy face.
On style and substance - though not toward his opponent - Mr. Bush was kinder. He was, indeed, gentler. He talked a lot about education. When it came to answering questions on potentially divisive subjects like homosexuality and abortion, Mr. Bush skirted the rock-hard positions favored by his base to plant his flag deep in the mushy middle ground once held by President Bill Clinton.
"Surely there are ways we can work together to reduce the number of abortions," he said. He smiled.
Yet even his smile was askew for about half the debate, marred by a glistening light dot at the right corner of his mouth. Viewers could be forgiven for losing track of his answers and imagining Laura Bush in the front row in frantic semaphore, wiping furiously at the corner of her own mouth.
Mr. Bush's face slipped into a frown late in the debate, as he struggled with a question on why the nation was so divided under his leadership. He began thumping one hand flat onto his lectern, knitting his brows as he segued to a defense of his management of the Iraq war.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/14/politics/campaign/14mood.html?adxnnl=1&oref=login&adxnnlx=1097741147-avq5N1RovSQpInI1P+d1zQ
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