Kerry Panning Out with Strong Debate

It's almost unanimous. Let's take a peek...

Boston Herald acknowledges:

"Kerry's first debate performance...positive campaign reviews..."
"Bush grimacing and scowling through the debate..."
"Bush advisers...grudgingly admitted...wasn't his best performance and...began trying to set expectations low for future debates."

NYTimes:

"Bush...seemed defensive and less sure of himself..."
"Kerry...accomplished his primary goal...a plausible commander in chief."
"[Bush] seemed to lean into the camera, pursing his lips, at some pains to disguise his apparent exasperation..."
"Bush burst out a spontaneous answer to a question that Mr. Kerry had posed only rhetorically..."
"Kerry had the greater burden, and his performance was more disciplined and controlled...spoke plainly, politely, but did not shrink from direct and pointed criticism of Mr. Bush's policies."
"Bush jumped in and asked for time for an additional rebuttal as Mr. Kerry started pummeling him..."

FOX:

""Several times it looked to me as if the president was sucking on a lemon," said Washington Post political writer and FOX News political analyst Ceci Connelly. "
"Bush looked "clueless.""
"Kerry...got under the president's skin."
"Michael O'Fallon...voted for Bush in 2000 and still is inclined to support the president. But he was disappointed."


Bush:

"We did our best...It's tough...hard work..."

There you have it, folks. The jury has decided on round one. Kerry gets this one.