In the new NEWSWEEK Poll, Bush's 49-43 percent lead in a three-way race has been erased, with Kerry now ahead 47-45 percent. Electoral politics is a game of comparison, and the first appearance of the two men side by side—one having a good night, the other a bad one—did wonders for Kerry's image. His "favorable/unfavorable" rating, last month a tepid 48-44 percent, rose to 52-40 (while Bush's dropped from 52-44 to 49-46). A whopping 63 million voters watched the Miami debate, and Kerry was scored the winner by 61 percent of them; only 19 percent thought Bush had won. Among viewers, Kerry overwhelmingly was regarded as the better informed and more self-assured. More ominously for Bush, Kerry was seen as the stronger leader onstage (47-44 percent)—and even as the more likable guy (47-41 percent).
...memo to the Kerry camp: no popping corks until Nov. 3rd! Kerry has a tendency to sputter whenever he gets ahead, or too far behind, so I don't really know if this is good or bad. "Stay on target" or this is little but minor damage to the deathstar.
Also, there's more here. Viewership for this debate, while certainly not Superbowl caliber, was higher than any of the last 3 first-round presidential debates. (I think... don't have the energy to look up the facts.) This could be a good sign for all the "turnout this year will be higher than ever" punditry, which in all likelihood helps the Dems. (Provided we're not so stoned on Nov. 2nd we can't find the polling station.)