U.S. Presidential Debate Facinates World (Guardian)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/

U.S. Presidential Debate Facinates World


Friday October 1, 2004 12:16 PM


AP Photo FLMZ108

By THOMAS WAGNER

Associated Press Writer

LONDON (AP) - Foreign viewers and analysts seemed to concur with their American counterparts on the debate between President Bush and Sen. John Kerry: Neither candidate made the kind of gaffe that will cost him the election, but Kerry fared slightly better.

Whatever the early verdicts were, one thing was clear: the debate attracted a lot of viewers overseas, even though Europeans had to stay up late to see it, and Asians had to wait until Friday morning their time.

Kerry ``won more points,'' said Stephan Strothe, a commentator on Germany's N24 news channel.

``Kerry seemed to show that he had the stuff to be president. He had more facts in his head, and he was able to explain his position in Iraq,'' Strothe said. ``He is back in the race. This will help him in the race.''

What would he have had to do to win the debate, say, "handily" or "masterfully?" Those are the terms I would use, myself. And I've judged a lot of debates.

So they're trying to make it look like the debate was a draw. Anyone with a brain can tell Kerry won the debate on substance AND style.

"Did I watch a different debate? Did I stay up too long? Maybe one tee many martoonies?"

Naw. Bush sucked.

to the AP article:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4527720,00.html

and the Guardian writeup:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uselections2004/story/0,13918,1317491,00.html