The Official Presidential debate thread

[strandinthewind]

Campaigns spin debate advantage
Will viewers see 'the heart and soul of the candidates'?



(CNN) -- As the much-anticipated first debate between the presidential candidates nears, the spin machines for both campaigns are working overtime, claiming that their man has an advantage going into the face-off.

"We feel like we're in a good position in this debate ... because the president knows what he thinks, why he thinks the way that he does, what he wants to do in the future, where he wants to lead the nation, and that stands in stark contrast to his opponent," said Mary Matalin, an adviser to President Bush's campaign.

Staffers in Sen. John Kerry's campaign said the Democrat's position -- currently behind in the polls -- is actually a good way to enter such a forum.

"I think it is always good to go into one of these high-profile debates as an underdog," said Kerry spokesman Mike McCurry.

"At the end, the important thing is you strip away all the negativity from the debate ... and you really get to look into the heart and soul of the candidates and say who really is going to get us to where we need to be as a nation and where are we going to be in the world at the end of the next four years after this president serves."

In recent days, both sides have also been careful to praise their opponents as skilled in the art of debating. (Special Report: America Votes 2004)

Joe Lockhart, a senior adviser to Kerry, said Bush has won every debate in which he has participated.

"Debates, in the modern political system, are not won by the person who knows the most information; they're won by the person who is most persuasive for their position," Lockhart said. "And George Bush has proven time and time again that he is a very persuasive debater. It does, of course, seem at times like he doesn't have all the facts straight, but he seems to do it in a way that gives you a sense of commitment and a sense of what direction he wants to go." (Stakes high heading into debates)

Dan Bartlett, White House communications director, emphasized Monday that Kerry is a skilled debater, pointing to the seven "epic debates" he had in 1996 with then-Gov. Bill Weld in the U.S. Senate race in Massachusetts.

The Democrat was an all-star debater in college and has honed his skills during 20 years in the Senate, Bartlett said.

The debates are considered a crucial point in what has been a lengthy campaign. A CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll released Monday showed that 18 percent of registered voters said the three debates would make a difference when they decided for whom they would cast their ballot in November. (Poll suggests Bush lead)

Kerry traveled Wednesday to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, from Spring Green, Wisconsin, where he had been preparing for the debate. (Authorities warn of possible debate threats)

"He is focused; he is totally focused on this preparation and on this debate," said senior adviser Susan Rice on CNN. "It is an opportunity for the American people to see that he is a strong, smart, tough leader."

President Bush, who had been getting ready for the debate at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, flew to Florida on Wednesday and toured a hurricane-damaged citrus grove there. He plans to tour more storm damage Thursday.

The two men will come face-to-face under highly orchestrated rules at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, on Thursday for the first debate, which begins at 9 p.m. ET.

A 32-page agreement reached last week between the two campaigns sets out the rules for the debates with great specificity, down to details such as the temperature of the hall, what kind of paper can be used to take notes and who can be standing in the wings backstage. (Networks balk at debate agreement)

No matter the rules, Matalin said, and no matter how great a debater Kerry is, the senator "will be disadvantaged in the debate."

"The problem for Senator Kerry is that he, his record and his campaign has been inconsistent ... and the challenge for Senator Kerry at this debate is to bring some clarity to his massive vacillation throughout this campaign, particularly on the issues most important to Americans, that is national security," she said. "He has been all over the board, I think he has 10 distinct positions on Iraq."

McCurry said the debate is an opportunity for the president to finally respond to some tough questions about the situation in Iraq.

"President Bush knows what he needs to do tomorrow night, but you know he probably won't do it, and what he really needs to do is answer questions that the American people have about where he would lead us in Iraq (and) how we deal with the consequences of his very wrong choices," he said on CNN's "American Morning."

A second debate will be October 8 at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and a third is scheduled for October 13 at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona.

A vice presidential debate will be October 5 at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.

Find this article at:
http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/...ain/index.html

[ShangriLaTroubl]

I will be leaving class 15 mins early tonight just so I can make it home in time for the debate..This is the most exciting part of a presidential campaign IMO...Sure I know I know, it's not a "REAL DEBATE." Afterall they aren't supposed to address eachother at all...but it is always interesting, no matter the rules, to see these two mean--who have BASICALLY been talking behind eachothers' backs for months and months now--IN THE SAME ROOM, WITHIN FEET APART! It's a little harder to say something about someone if they are standing right next to you..
George Bush is a good debater...He knows how to win the people over, even without having much facts...someone said in Rolling Stone recently, people like Bush "because he's someone you would want to invite over for a BBQ, but shouldnt you hold the office of President to higher standards than someone who you would enjoy having a BBQ with?"
People like Bush often because he seems "normal" to them..."just like one of us." Kerry has a chance to prove himself, defend his record when questioned (because the problem with him is ,while he has a strong record---it has just been distorted, and it takes him 10 mins to defend it)--they dont have that long to talk on each mini-subject. I expect George to be basically the same as he was in 2000, smirking, giggling, being kind of condescending...but Kerry is no Al Gore, he is a much better debator..unfortunately I think in order for Kerry to be called the "winner" of this debate, he will have to dumb down what he says a lot...Lets face it, the average American voter could care less about all the figures, and the lengthy speeches...he needs to tell Bush how it is (even though he cant talk to Bush, he can say "My opponent needs to realize..." etc)...he needs to look strong..it will be fun to watch..cant wait!

[Nixxxed]

Has any of the networks announced that they are going against the "TV rules" for broadcasting the debates? I know Fox is running the pool cameras, but several networks have said they didn't like the setup of the rules and were planning to use the feed any way they saw fit...

Just trying to find out ahead of time so I don't miss something flipping around!

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by Nixxxed

Has any of the networks announced that they are going against the "TV rules" for broadcasting the debates? I know Fox is running the pool cameras, but several networks have said they didn't like the setup of the rules and were planning to use the feed any way they saw fit...

Just trying to find out ahead of time so I don't miss something flipping around!

Rumor has it that they are going to show the reaction shots. We'll see. I'll be flipping around.

[gldstwmn]

Yo Nixxxed! CNN is breaking protocol with the camera shots!

[gldstwmn]

Split screen on C-SPAN. Smirky is on the ropes!

[Nixxxed]

ABC is split-screening too, and I've never seen Shrub look so uncomfortable or stammer so much (and that is really saying something).

Good think I prayed really hard today to send Kerry strength! I think he's doing great!

[heyjupiter678]

Originally Posted by gldstwmn

Split screen on C-SPAN. Smirky is on the ropes!

He looks like a 5 year old who's being reprimanded.

[amber]

Omigod, it's 7o here, i just turned it on, and bush appears to be sweating, Kerry just mentioned his daughters, and the leash...and then "learn new facts, put them to use...Bush not acknowledging the truth of the facts - stem cell, iraq..." OOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHYEAHHHHH! It's perfect!
okay, then bush says "i will not change my morals for politics" yeah, cause you don't care about representing the people you govern...
ok

[amber]

600 + tons of unsecured nuclear waste in Russia...
(kerry) - "this president has secured less nuclear waste, than ..." YEAH! KICK THE SH** OUT OF IT, KERRY!!!!WAAAAHHHOOOOOOO! (this is why i don't follow politics extremely closely...it gets me all worked up, i swear... )
ok

[estranged4life]

My TV is also showing a splitscreen:

Herman Munster on the left & a burning Shrub on the right...Bitchin'!!!!

Brian j.

[amber]

Omigod, then bush just counters with all the new weapons he's building!!! omigod, he's so lame, i can hardly stand to listen to him! The persecution complex, and the aggression in this guy, i swear...
ok
omigod, now he's saying what a proponent of checks and balances he is!!! this guys so full of doo he's like the people on the passion of the jew video!
ok

[estranged4life]

Originally Posted by amber

600 + tons of unsecured nuclear waste in Russia...
(kerry) - this president has secured less nuclear waste, than ...YEAH! KICK THE SH** OUT OF IT, KERRY!!!!WAAAAHHHOOOOOOO! (this is why i don't follow politics extremely closely...it gets me all worked up, i swear... )
ok

According to a news report I just saw there's a un-EXPLODED Hydrogen bomb somewhere off the East Coast in the ocean (I think the name of the place is Wassaw Bay)!!! A scientist believes he may have found it because of the HIGH radiation detection in the oceans current/eddys (I wonder about the other 18 MISSING nukes that were lost due to error/mishap!!!!)

Brian "And that's the ultimate sin..." j.

[amber]

Originally Posted by estranged4life

According to a news report I just saw there's a un-EXPLODED Hydrogen bomb somewhere off the East Coast in the ocean (I think the name of the place is Wassaw Bay)!!! A scientist believes he may have found it because of the HIGH radiation detection in the oceans current/eddys (I wonder about the other 18 MISSING nukes that were lost due to error/mishap!!!!)


Brian "And that's the ultimate sin..." j.

OMIGOD, I KNOW, YOU'RE FREAKIN ME OUT

Omigod, i totally believe it, and i've been watching the pbs shows here in the bay about all the sunken ships of the bay holding nuclear waste, and how they can't do anything but "containment" them, and did you know the rate of breast cancer on the women in Marin is like, triple the national average? and some researchers try to blame it on their wealthy lifestyle and consumption of shellfish, and high end fish (swordfish) and although that could be a factor, i don't think by any means it can be totally blamed...
ok, now they're talking about war record, which is somewhat meaninless to me, although i know it's not to other people and i totally respect that...but to talk about war records during the vietnam era?? pffft...it's so far down on the list for me, to a certain extent...what i look at more, is how much you tried to hide your sh***, and i think bush clearly loses in that respect...IMHO.
ok, town hall program with debate on the domestic issues? ok, i have movies to return, but i really want to see this...

[Nixxxed]

I've been flipping channels, and EVERYONE - even FOX - is scoring the win for KERRY!!!!