Was Kerry holding back last night?

During the debate, I was thinking that Kerry let several opportunities go by to really smash Bush* on domestic issues: environment, stem cells, taxes, etc. Kerry did attack, but it was subdued.

This morning I am wondering if that wasn't a deliberate strategy. Kerry knows the last debate is all about domestic policy. He did hit Bush* hard on foreign policy, so maybe he's saving his best domestic policy responses for the third debate.

He got to see what Bush*s claims will be about his "success" on domestic issues. Now, in the third debate he will have crafted answers that smash Bush* if he repeats any of his nonsense.

Perhaps Kerry gave the Chimperor a little rope last night?

there have been instances in both debates where he could have really hit a home run, and I still wish he would have last night on the final question.

I am worried about viewership and those who might have made up their minds last night. I think it might be a folly to ever go light in a debate, you never know who you will loose to never regain.

There were a couple of times last night that my husband actually groaned because Kerry repeated himself from the previous debate. It does make sense to leave the best for last, especially since he could tell he was doing fine last night.

A football analogy (in honor of the Texas-OU game that begins in an hour): Coach doesn't bring out his trick plays when he's already winning! :D

Hook 'em, Horns!

In addition, he really could have hit Bush on his unwillingness to acknowledge any mistakes he has made.

But I don't see what benefit Kerry would have from giving Chimpy "a rope", as you say.

Still, I thought last night Kerry clearly won.

Bush* was making some very grandiose claims last night. I was thinking Kerry let him get away with it so that he will repeat them in the next debate.

Then Kerry pounces. The noose tightens. The Chimperor twists slowly in the wind.

There were several opportunities for Kerry to crush some of Bushs' twisted answers. Sometimes he misses them because he goes to finish a response from a previous question first, which causes him to lose the impact of a quick and forceful response from the dunb answer just eneded by Bush.

I think this is also caused by not referring to the notes he took during the Bush answer. I have noticed that Kerry is talking copius notes while Bush talks, but does not refer to them right before the answer to help target the response. I think sometimes he is focused on cleaning up a previous response and misses the boat somewhat on a quick, clean rebuke.

(He also missed an oppotunity to school Bush on the Dred Scott debacle - Bush clearly found himself talking about things he did not know and Kerry could have skewered him - but then again this MAY have highlight his "too smart" status amoung many voters.)

Kerry checked to Bush.

Kerry knows the next debate is entirely on domestic issues and he forced Bush* to show his hand before that debate.

Nice move actually.

Kerry's saving all the real juice for Round 3?

I found it interesting that he kept saything "this president" without ever saying "President Bush" or "the president" or even "Mr. Bush." To me it seemed calculated to irritate "this president." I'll bet it did, too. It conveyed a definite lack of respect. I found myself hoping that it wasn't overdone.

I think it was Oliphant...I listened to James Fallows, Tom Oliphant and Sydney Blumenthal in quick succession that night, so forgive me if I blurred them a bit.

The observation was, there are two things candidates need to do in a town hall debate. They have to connect with the questioners, and they have to answer the questions - not just use them as launching points for attacks.

Kerry did that much better than Bush, who even harangued the woman who asked him about what mistakes he had made. He didn't answer her question. He defended himself against the question he thought she was asking. Bush shouted at people as though he wanted to make them stop questioning him.

Kerry acknowledged the thoughts behind questions about abortion and stem cell research. His attacks against Bush were blunted by the time he spent connecting with the audience. The format of the last debate will allow him to focus on Bush.

Let Bush get a little cocky going into the last debate. Let the media have their little "draw." And then clean his clock in the final round :)

I honestly don't think Kerry wanted to give Bush his debating points on Domestic Issues for the final debate. Kerry wanted to win last night but he was happy with it being close. Bush basically attacked Kerry on all the things he missed out attacking in the first debate after he studied up. I could tell Kerry was holding back particularly on the environment and domestic issues. Look for a whole different Kerry on the 13th when it comes to domestic issues. Kerry will be ready to go for the jugular.