2004 Presidential Election
Here's a recap of last night's debate from the Denver Post [October 14, 2004, "Fault lines open up over economy, tax cuts"]. From the article, "For 90 minutes in Tempe, Ariz., the two candidates displayed a stark contrast in their views of virtually every major domestic issue, and particularly Bush's stewardship of the U.S. economy, as they offered a blizzard of figures and statistics to try to make their cases. Kerry repeatedly portrayed himself as a fiscally responsible leader running against a spendthrift president who had cut taxes for the wealthy and tolerated a profound decline for the American middle class. All the while, Bush watched with impatience...Bush, faced with the challenge of a debate that was supposed to be focused entirely on domestic issues - after building his re-election campaign on national security - cited a litany of events outside his control as he sought to rebut the battery of economic statistics Kerry used against him."
Here's another article about the debate from the Denver Post[October 14, 2004, "Kerry uses debates' stage to turn campaign around"]. From the article, "President Bush gave an able performance in a debate where the format and topic - domestic affairs - were thought to favor his Democratic opponent...But by more than holding his own in the three high-stakes confrontations with Bush - and showing some warmth of his own - Kerry has transformed the 2004 election. He enters the final days of the campaign with a genuine chance at upsetting a wartime incumbent. Network news polls named Kerry the winner of Wednesday night's exchange, as they had in the first two faceoffs. A CNN sample had Kerry winning 52 percent to 39 percent, while CBS had the Democrat winning 39-25 and ABC had a tighter margin, with Kerry the victor 42-41."
Here's an article reviewing the candidate's performance from the AP via the Rocky Mountain News [October 14, 2004, "Bush, Kerry duel over health care plans"]. From the article, "Two instant polls made the Massachusetts senator out to be the winner of the debate and a third said it was a tie, but that said nothing about the encounter's impact on the race for the presidency. A wealth of surveys said that was close - and getting closer, with Bush and Kerry concentrating their time and money on a dozen or so battleground states."
The AP via the Rocky Mountain News fact checks the candidates with respect to last night's debate [October 14, 2004, "Debate inaccuracies turning into classics"].
Electoral-vote.com: "A new ARG poll in Iowa makes that state a tie again, but other than that, no states changed today."
TalkLeft: "Blogger reaction to third debate."
Update: I just noticed that Colorado For Kerry is styled as a weblog. That's very smart on their part. It's not clear where to click to join their email list but there is a nicely designed form to use to sign up. I would prefer an RSS 2.0 feed, but that's just me. 
Those of you that know me can tell that I'm collecting data for the Gulchie Awards for the November election. Please feel free to comment on Colorado candidate websites and weblogs. I'm mostly interested in the Denver races, U.S. Senate, and President. I'm looking for some help coming up with a good graphic for the Gulchies. Any PhotoShop (Mac) people out there send me email.
Update: Dave Winer "The obvious reason Lynne Cheney is upset that Kerry talked about their gay daughter in last night's debate is that their love for their daughter contradicts the Republican policy of limiting the rights of gay people. They'e willing to sacrifice their integrity for the votes of some bad people (following Ms Cheney's judgement re Kerry). The problem is with the Cheney philosophy, not Kerry. They have a gay daughter. That's a known fact. They also contribute to the oppression of gay people. That's the problem."
Update: Pacific Views: "The president was smiling like it hurt." Thanks to TalkLeft for the link.
Update: Andrew Sullivan: "Kerry: 100 percent of the rights of civil marriage. Bush: none. I'd say that's a pretty huge difference, wouldn't you?"
Update: Josh Marshall: "But what else? It'll be like a 'where's Waldo' thing: Karl Rove Dirty Trick's Watch. Who will be able to spot Karl's dirty tricks first? Who has the sharpest eye? Sit back in your seat. Get out the popcorn."
Update: Fellow Coloradan, Vodka Pundit writes, "If Drudge has it right, then the Kerry-Edwards campaign is going to do its damnedest to turn our fine nation into a banana republic."
"To these guys, winning office is more important than the sanctity of elections. Holding power is more important than the Constitution. Much as I despise at least half of what most Republicans stand for, they don't seem nearly as willing to trash the system they're trying to run. Too many Democrats, especially at the national level, just don't care that our system, our nation is far more important than any single election."
Coyote Gulch wonders if Doneta Davidson wants to be somewhere else?
Update: William Gibson: "Just about seven years ago I happened to find myself in San Francisco with a very pleasant man who was then an Office Assistant to the Secretary of Defense." Thanks to Simon Phipps for the link.
Update: Taegan Goddard: "A new poll by the Scripps Survey Research Center shows Sen. John Kerry leading President Bush, 50% to 45%, among registered voters. Among those surveyed, only 43% approve of the job Bush has done as president and 53% say it's 'time for someone new.' Interestingly, when looking only at people who say they 'always' or 'almost always' vote, Bush leads Kerry, 48% to 47%. And among those who say they are 'very certain' of their vote and who 'always' participate in major elections, Bush leads Kerry, 52% to 48%. Meanwhile, the latest tracking polls show a dead heat: ABC News/Washington Post (tie), Zogby (Bush +1), Rasmussen (Bush +2.2). Here are some notable state polls: Ohio - Bush 49, Kerry 47 (Rasmussen); Arkansas - Bush 46, Kerry 45 (Zogby)."
6:34:21 AM 
|
