John Kerry won an unanimous decision from our All-Star Debate Team last night, not a knockout by any means, but enough of a score to keep this thing going to the late innings. The central theme that emerged in the post-debate interviews was that Kerry "lived to fight another day," something that was in question on the eve of the showdown. Let's go out to the field now for the play-by-play

FIRST BASE

"Kerry won the debate," top NM lobbyist and Democrat Scott Scanland reported just one minute after the end. "He looked strong and resolute. I think his performance puts the race back in play." Scanland told us before the face-off that the burden was on Kerry, but Bush helped him. "I think Bush was challenged in the articulation department. Kerry will get a bump in the polls," offered up Scanland who agreed the final two debates will take on added importance and be watched more than previously expected. "The race cannot be called yet," was his final thought.

SECOND BASE

Republican strategist and ex-ABQ city councilor Greg Payne was one of several Republicans immediately conceding that Kerry won. He beat Scanland with the call, chiming in just 30 seconds after the sign-off. "It was do or die and Kerry did," declared Payne. "I don't think Bush brought his best game to the debate. A telling point was that he wanted to react more in those 30 second extensions than Kerry did. It's never a good sign when you are on the defensive. It was a clear sign that Kerry was getting under his skin. We are on the trajectory for a repeat of 2000, a very tight race," concluded Payne.

THIRD BASE

Green Steve Cabiedes said the main point of last night was that "Bush did not put the final nail in the Kerry coffin. He was clearly on the defensive. Kerry did not come across as a flip-flopper; he finally had clarity. Bush did not seem comfortable in the format and he seemed redundant. I suspect the next debate will be a lot hotter because it will be on domestic issues and those traditionally favor the Democrats.
This was Bush's best chance to take Kerry out, but he couldn't deliver," analyzed the political junkie.

CATCHER

ABQ Tribune political writer Shea Andersen scored it for Kerry because "he was smooth and brought information to every answer. Compared to the President, Kerry looked as though he was having a good time. Bush looked angry and frustrated and seemed to run out of things to say." But Andersen made an important point when he wondered aloud whether Kerry had made "an emotional connection" with the audience, something perhaps as important as winning debating points. "I talked with an undecided Republican after the debate who told me he still doesn't like Kerry but was 'severely disappointed' in Bush. Shea's final point was on the spin. "Will the Republicans cut a bunch of TV ads about the debate to squash the spin that Kerry has won?" mused the scribe as he returned to the action.

SHORT STOP

Republican Kurt Lohbeck, a battle-scarred political vet, was more sanguine about the Bush performance, although he agreed Kerry won it on points. "But I don't think he drew the blood he needed to."

Lohbeck previously said Kerry needed to make Bush go 'slackjawed.' "He did not hurt the President and he needed to do that to move his campaign forward." But Lohbeck has differed with other Republicans that the race was Bush's to lose. "I thought the race was close going in and is still close, but Kerry is behind." Lohbeck says all the water has been pumped out of the Iraq well for Kerry and he needs to move on. "The American people are not going to abandon their chief in a time of war. Kerry now needs to focus on the economy. It's his last, best chance," commented Lohbeck who played Prez politics with R candidate Pat Buchanan

CLEAN-UP BATTER

We leave the clean-up to the GOP's Bruce Donisthorpe who has the uncanny ability to be nonpartisan on matters of campaign tactics. "I don't think this will be viewed as a definitive campaign event. Kerry won because he landed a few more punches and because he lives to fight another day. The debate was essentially over after the first half-hour. I think Bush was expecting more questions on other foreign policy topics because he seemed to run out of gas on Iraq." Donisthorpe, like Lohbeck, does not see Bush far ahead in the race, but does see him in the lead. "The race is going to tighten, but I believed that before the debate."

I asked Bruce if he thought the Bush team may have been outfoxed a bit by agreeing to three debates, rather than two. "Certainly, the next two debates are going to be watched much more because Bush did not put him away tonight," he answered. "

Thanks to my entire team of Debate All-Stars the past two days. All of those above, plus pollster Brian Sanderoff, the Weekly Alibi's Tim McGivern and Democrat Harry Pavlides. Stay with us for the final month of Campaign 04'. We will cover it like a wet blanket.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2004
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