AP is reporting that Kerry’s debate performance might have moved the needle.
Businesswoman Marilyn Morrison of San Marcos, Calif., leans toward Bush, but after the 57-year-old Republican watched the debate, she turned to her Democratic husband and said, “If Kerry won, I could live with it.”
Morrison, who voted for Bush in 2000, says she never would have said that before watching the presidential debate, which focused on foreign policy.
Persuadable voters tended to credit Kerry with doing a better job in the debate. CBS News interviewed a nationally representative sample of 200 persuadable — or uncommitted — voters on Thursday night. Those voters said Kerry did a better job in the debate by 43 percent to 28 percent, with the remainder saying it was a tie.
More than half, 53 percent, said they had a more favorable view of Kerry after the debate….
Now here’s the kicker: “…22 percent said their view of Bush improved.”
Wonder what they must have thought of the guy beforehand? Fortunately, the debate rules didn’t allow the candidates to walk around much less chew gum.