Do you think Kerry held back during the last debate?

[CatWoman]

There were a couple subject Kerry could have surely flattened Furious George on -- most notably the horrible jobs report, and the WMD report.

What do you think?

[teach1st]

1. I thought so at the time...

...we'll see in the coming evenings and weeks if Kerry lets loose.

[blm]

2. I dunno. If Kerry trounced him too badly, then he wouldn't show for a 3rd

debate.

[Lefty Pragmatist]

3. Not really, although he did miss a couple good chances.

The best chance of all was when he got diarrea of the mouth in answering the "do you promise not to raise taxes on families earning above $200k" question. He should have just looked into the camera and said, "I promise."

I think the point has been made after debate #1 that Bush has a lot to hide. Kerry did go after him a few times, but generally speaking he was substantive and respectful -- very important considering Gore blew the presidency by being pompous in 2000.

[txindy]

4. I got that impression

Nothing specific, just a feeling. I came away from that believing the third debate is when the gloves really come off. We know the SCLM will see to it that the Kerry campaign rarely gets airtime after the last debate, so this is the Senator's last chance to let tens of millions of people see the REAL John Kerry, not the media's translation.

I cannot WAIT for this next debate! :toast:

[Rose Siding]

5. Having a vivid imagination,

it occured to me as we were all whopping about Bush's melt down, that Kerry might have seen the job as done. -Maybe not like it was all over but he looked a little embarrased for Bush in the shot where you could see him. Did anyone else see that?

[skooooo]

10. Yeah, I saw that...

...really Bush is very pathetic in a way.

[PittLib]

14. correction ...

Bush* is pathetic in many ways. ;)

[noamnety]

15. I saw that too

Wasn't sure if I was reading too much into it, but I definitely thought he had the embarrassed look like people get in a grocery store when some woman is threatening to spank her child because it won't shut up.

[EndElectoral]

6. ?Could have hit hard on woman's right to Choose and environment - mercury

and secret energy meetings

He also needs to not so sound so "scripted" on his final statement. Almost like he's finding the ideas brought up tonight rather than having memorized them. Really talking to people with passion. if he does that --- he wins the debate!

[Bleacher Creature]

7. Sort of . . .

I think he saved some of his best arguments for Wednesday, which will have a bigger audience and is totally domestic.

The two reasons I say that are:

1) Kerry didn't hammer the jobs report enough. It's a killer argument and he only briefly mentioned it. He's too smart for that.

2) While Bush was trying to answer the environment question, I was sitting there thinking that Kerry was going to hit the rebuttal out of the park. He then proceeded to make some good points, but way less than I expected.

I'm not so sure if I would say that he held back -- but I do think that he was protecting some of his best material so as not to give the Bush camp too much time to come up with responses.

[CatWoman]

24. I think he's saving some stuff for Wednesday, too

*hoping Wednesday Kerry will deliver the knock-out punch*

[RevCheesehead]

8. Yes.

There were times shrub was digging himself into a hole, and I saw just a hint of a smile on Kerry's face. Of course, I thought * was way too forceful, and Kerry (pragmatist that he is), decided to sit back and let shrub hang himself.

All of *'s lies have been exposed by the media (they're doing their own fact-checking lately!), so all Kerry has to do is stay on target.

[PittLib]

9. Yes, and I have a theory ...

I think he has been restrained up to this point as not to appear too aggressive and "mean-spirited" (double standard, I know). I don't think he will hold back in this debate. If people aren't convinced by now, nothing will convince them. I predict the gloves will come off Wednesday ... and Kerry will deliver that fatal blow we keep hoping for.

[girl gone mad]

11. I do think he held back..

and let Bush hog the spotlight.

The story was always going to be Bush's improvement (another terrible showing was unlikely, but also would have dominated the coverage). The headlines were already written.

I think Kerry was smart to play it safe this time.

[0007]

12. I think Kerry was on overload and was drained!

....and he still handled the little prick with ease.

[CatWoman]

25. Yes -- he did seem a little tired

:hi:

[Leilani]

13. Yes, I think he held back

I think he definitly won the debate, but I think he could have really hit Bush with more ammo.

From what I have read & heard, Kerry did not want to appear too mean.

I think in the 3rd & final debate, he should go for the kill. I want to see him demolish Bush, so they can t spin it as a tie.

[gordianot]

16. I think Kerry has been holding back for the last two months.

* tends to be reactive to new issues. Senator Kerry working this to his advantage.

[virgdem]

17. Another point to consider...

Kerry has to walk a fine line when debating *. The press are generally deferential to and biased toward *. If Kerry were to hammer him on all three debates, the press would complain that Kerry was not deferential and respectful toward *. I do believe however, that Kerry is saving the best for last. I think he's smart enough to know that this is his last hurrah, and he better make the most of it.

[TheDonkey]

18. I hope so, but I don't think so

He didn't seem as great during the 2nd debate as he did the 1st. A combination of poorer makeup and hairstyling also made him see more off target.

Hopefully he'll blow the roof off this wednesday.

[JI7]

19. i think he saw Bush was losing it and allowed it to happen, but

stupid ass charlie gibson gave bush a free pass .

[Harlan James]

20. Bush: Same bullshit, just louder.

I think that Kerry decided to let the little fool run wild as a way of setting him up for the big finish in Round 3.

Bush has now said just about everything he can. And somehow his handlers have concluded that his BS is more convincing if it is said loudly.

Bush has been played. Watch.

[CatWoman]

26. hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

that's great!!!

welcome to DU!!

:hi:

[txindy]

21. This debate is also on a Wednesday night

not a Friday, as was the last debate. Many more people will watch this debate. I think the Senator saved his best debate performance for this occasion. Why waste it early or give away his plans for the final debate?

Have I mentioned that I cannot WAIT for this last debate?! ;) Just checking! :toast:

[CatWoman]

27. LOL

And here's hoping that Furious George makes an even bigger monkey of himself :toast:

[deadparrot]

22. Kerry's a closer.

I wouldn't be surprised if he pulled out all the stops on Wednesday night.

[TriMetFan]

23. I think Kerry is going to hit a

home run/touchdown/slam-dunk on Wednesday.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

28. I think so, but it was due to the town hall format of the debate

Somebody - Tom Oliphant, or James Fallows - pointed out the night before that there are two things you need to do in a town hall debate: connect with the people asking the questions, and answer the questions. Not use them as launching points for your usual campaign-stop speech on whatever subject is brought up.

Kerry did that so much better than Bush, but I think it also blunted his attacks on Bush. That's okay. Kerry didn't shout at people or accuse anyone of hidden questions behind their questions (when Bush did that to the woman who asked about his mistakes, that was one of the most cringeful moments of the evening). I expect Kerry will take off the gloves tomorrow night.

[CityHall]

29. Going for likeability and the "women's vote"

Kerry has enough of an edge on Bush that he can choose how to frame his responses. He had to walk a tightrope on issues like abortion, but for the most part, the debates looked like lopsided chess matches, where the stronger player had his choice of winning moves.

The first debate was about appearing tough and presidential. The second was about likeability. I think the third will be about emphasizing his own plans, and hitting Bush on a few key points like tax cuts for the rich, and Enron. I think Kerry will continue to hold back on issues like the environment that play as too liberal in swing states.