Reply #37: I don't think it's Bush's answers to the questions that harm him...

[SidDithers]

It's all the other stuff that was going on.

There's only so many "questions" that can be asked, and any debator worth his salt should be able to find a way to fit one of his scripted answers into his replies.

Where Bush got rattled was hearing the direct criticism coming from Kerry. He immediately had to reply - he got to use his 30 seconds on almost every question where Kerry went second - and his replies left people with their collective jaws hanging open.

As long as Kerry stays on message, and points out Bush's failures, Bush will have to go off-script to reply. And that's where his trouble is.

Sid