Washington Week . Student Voices

Repubs, Dems analyze debate
By Andre Clayton
The Independent Collegian (U. Toledo)
10/04/2004

(U-WIRE) TOLEDO, Ohio — According to recent polls, the first presidential debate has helped John Kerry's campaign by closing the gap in the polls between himself and President George W. Bush.

A Newsweek magazine poll, conducted after the debate, reports Kerry at 47 percent and Bush at 45 percent.

The debate was held Thursday in Coral Gables, Fla. — the first of three presidential debates that will take place between Bush and Kerry.

The main theme of the presidential debate was foreign affairs and homeland security.

Bush focused on Kerry's "flip-flopping."

"The only thing consistent about my opponent's position is that he's been inconsistent," Bush said.

Gabrielle Seay, president of the UT College Democrats and a sophomore majoring in sociology and Africana studies, watched the debate with other UT students in the Student Union Building.

"[Bush] kept getting out of questions by making note of Kerry's 'flip-flopping' on issues," Seay said.

Kerry said Bush misled the country about the War in Iraq and also mentioned his own military career several times.

"I understand what the president is talking about because I know what it means to lose people in combat," Kerry said.

"This president has made, I regret to say, a colossal error of judgment. And judgment is what we look for in the president of the United States of America," Kerry said of Bush's decision to occupy Iraq.

Megan Harrington, president of the College Republicans and a sophomore majoring in political science, watched the debate at the Republican Victory Center in Maumee.

"Bush was consistent with his statements," Harrington said.

"Everybody knows where he stands, especially on national security and the Iraq War."

"John Kerry was prepared and did not get agitated," Seay said. "He thoroughly described plans and intentions."

Harrington said, "Although Kerry has good presentation skills, he made inconsistent statements."

Bush also had his share of misstatements that did not go unnoticed by Kerry.

"The president just talked about Iraq as a center of the war on terror," Kerry said. "Iraq was not even close to the center of the war on terror before the president invaded it."

"Jim, the president just said something extraordinarily revealing and frankly very important in this debate. In answer to your question about Iraq and sending people into Iraq, he just said, 'The enemy attacked us.' Saddam Hussein didn't attack us. Osama bin Laden attacked us. Al Qaeda attacked us."

"Bush was good at using scare tactics, trying to gain voters' trust in his ability to protect America from terrorist attacks, but he seemed unprepared and irritated," Seay said.

Harrington praised Bush's debate skills.

"Bush addressed all issues that he felt were most important, and stated his position on all of them," she said. "Kerry needs to be more consistent. His plan for Iraq was not clear or specific. Kerry did not change my opinion."

Seay disagreed, and thought Kerry did an excellent job at the debates.

"John Kerry did a fabulous job," Seay said. "Kerry should keep doing what he has done so far for the next debate."

Harrington also thought her candidate did a good job at the debates.

"For the next debate, Bush should continue to present his beliefs and stand firm to them," she said.

PBS official Jim Lehrer moderated the 90-minute debate, held in the basketball arena of the University of Miami.

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