Reply #13: I doubt it, really

[Technowitch]

No, at the very least, they would've been hoping for something approaching a tie, so that they could spin it into a victory.

That ain't happening. All the Happy Talk(tm) I see coming out of the Repugs spin machines today makes NO reference to the actual debate performance, and instead merely tries to attack various Kerry positions (misrepresenting them, of course).

I honestly think that they're dismayed, panicked, and dearly hoping they can do better in the next two debates -- assuming they aren't looking for excuses not to have them.