Debate ups and downs...

[JohnnyCougar]

Overall, I think the debate was very close. I believe Cheney came off as the tougher candidate, but that might not mean he won. Their styles differed, and that probably played well with different people.

Cheney was speaking to his base, and I think he did a good job to push their point of view. He seemed like he knew exactly what he was talking about, and probably did well in reenergizing the demoralized conservative base after Bush* publically wet himself. With that said, that may make Bush* look even dumber by comparison, so I don't know how well this will play with moderate Republicans. I noticed at a few points, he was covering up his microphone with his arms, and it made him seem even more like he was mumbling. But I can see the conservative base as somewhat reassured after Cheney's performance.

John Edwards, however, was talking to swing voters and women. He did very well in connecting with the disenfrancised people of this nation, and came off more as "one of us." He seemed like he was your next door neighbor, someone who you could trust with your children. I think this will play well with women: single and married. He did let himself get attacked on his senate attendance record, which I thought was the lowest point of the debate. He needed to have a better comeback for that. He also played to the African American base at times, but I think he could have done more of that.

Overall, I think it was probably more of a draw in the fact that each accomplished a certain objective, but I think Edwards' objective may help them in the polls more.