TV (Again) Hails Kerry as Debate Champ

TV (Again) Hails Kerry
as Debate Champ

The network snap polls conducted after Wednesday nights debate declared John Kerry the winner, although ABC found Kerry only edged President Bush by a single point (42% to 41%). CBS resurrected its Web-based survey of 200 uncommitted voters to find Kerry was the winner in the eyes of 39% compared with 25% who picked Bush. But this time, at least, CBSs Anthony Mason pointed out how this group came to the debate giving Bush lower approval ratings than the overall electorate. Sounds like CBSs dream panel. Last nights highlights:

■ Disappointing Bill Kristol. Its a smashing victory for Bush, The Weekly Standards Bill Kristol announced on FNC. I think the mainstream media will have to acknowledge it. But the pundits on the other networks disappointed Kristol, either touting Kerry as the champ or refraining from picking a winner.

■ Tax Cuts for the Wealthy? Even though lower- and middle-income workers received a higher percentage reduction of their tax bills, ABC Political Director Mark Halperin was frustrated that Kerry did not cite misleading Democratic talking points. The absolute dollar figures have gone to wealthier Americans. Thats been one of the Democrats main talking points, Halperin argued. I dont think he hit that particularly hard.

■ Who Cares About War, Terrorism and the Economy? ABC added liberal PBS and NPR host Tavis Smiley to their pundit parade. Referring to Bob Schieffers question about affirmative action, Smiley complained that it took us four debates, into the last 15 minutes, to hear a discussion about issues that matter to people of color....Tonight, at least, I finally got some conversation about things that matter to me as a voter of color. But as a liberal, Smiley probably enjoyed Schieffers questions (see box).

■ Bushs Tired and Tinny Charge. Newsweeks Jon Meacham thought calling Kerry an out-of-the-mainstream liberal was unserious. I think the liberal, liberal, liberal, liberal seems a little tinny these days. I think its a more serious time, Meacham said on MSNBC. On CNN, the Boston Globes Nina Easton agreed, saying swing voters dont like that tired horse of calling Kerry a liberal from Massachusetts.

■ Disdaining Kerrys Low Blow. Newsweeks Meacham thought it was jolting and out of bounds for Kerry to mention that Dick Cheneys daughter is a lesbian. On FNC, Morton Kondracke agreed, calling it a low blow. But MSNBCs Chris Matthews fantasized about Kerry throwing some pro-gay rhetoric at Bush on the question of whether homosexuality is a choice: I was waiting for John Kerry to come back to the President and say, When did you choose?

■ Kerrys Bandwagon Rolls On. ABCs Dean Reynolds professed confidence: The candidate whose numbers have been moving in the right direction for the last 10 days has been John Kerry. This debate did nothing to stop that, and I think from the Kerry point of view, theyll be happy about the results tonight. They certainly couldnt complain about the networks commentary.

Brent Baker and Rich Noyes