Bush was right to be afraid of the debates.

[TwilightZone]

Very afraid.

Before the debates, the election was anyone's game. In fact, if we're honest with ourselves, Bush was probably in the driver's seat prior to the first debate. The media was hammering the public with the "inevitability" meme and all but calling the race for Bush.

We knew better, but then, not everyone listens to us. The easily-swayed were being swayed away from our candidate.

Then came debate number one. Bush "performed" exactly as many of us expected him to. He couldn't even meet expectations that had been lowered to ridiculous levels by the media. Many people expressed surprise at the level of Bush's incompetence. We, of course, knew that this was the "real" W, not the stump speaker speaking to carefully chosen audiences. Under pressure, he wilts and shuts down, just as he did for those seven minutes in Florida on 9/11/01.

Then, debate number two. Many have called it Bush's version of the Dean scream, though in Dean's case, his "scream" was one born of nine parts passion and one part disappointment. Dean's passionate cry to his supporters was just that - an attempt to rally them. The intent isn't in question.

Bush's "scream", however, was one born of anger, ego, self-importance, and sheer arrogance. It had no purpose other than to shore up his ludicrous tough-guy image and further his go-it-alone mentality.

I'm going to do what I want and no one can stop me. I can't believe that you have the audacity to question anything I say or do. I am the President of the United States - kneel before Zod.

Debate number three could very well be the nail in the coffin. This is not overconfidence; it is reality. Bush has been exposed; the question is whether America is paying attention.

Kerry is a closer and is a master of sustaining late-campaign momentum. The general election has all of the signs of following in the footsteps of the primaries. Kerry surged late then and breezed to a relatively easy victory. We can only hope that the closing stages of the general election are similarly anticlimatic.

Kerry can slam the door next Wednesday. A performance similar to debates one and two would solidify his momentum. A Bush performance similar to his prior performances would only intensify Kerry's momentum.

Undecided voters often vote solely for the candidate that they perceive will be the winner. If Kerry is perceived as having all of the momentum - and Bush is seen as "fading" - going into the election, Kerry will win.

[TwilightZone]

1. ...

Self-serving, late-afternoon kick.

Either that, or I'm talking to myself.