Just saw on CNN Headline news: according to CNN/Gallop poll, 53% thought Kerry did better overall, while only 37% favored Bush. However, personally I think one could not have expected anything weighty in terms of substance out of either candidates from a carefully pre-scripted debate, other than their styles, approaches and their oratory skills. On this regard, I believe both camps can claim that their respective candidates performed well. As for me, Bush seemed, as someone already pointed out earlier, rather irritated at times [which is negative], and seemed limited on offensive ideas. "Ghumdai firdai rumjaataar" bhanya jasto...sugaa le ratyaa jhain eutai kura rattya chha rattya chha. How many times did he quote [for the purpose of attacking] Kerry's phrase "wrong war, wrong place, wrong time"? Uffffffffff...yo lathyaapre laai aru bolna aundaina, bhanya? But I must give the guy credit for looking strong and resolute, which, however, dosen't mean that he is always right. On the other hand, Kerry did well on constantly reminding the listeners of his strong differences with Bush on Iraq [without sounding like a sugaa] -- he adroitly explored variety of areas where he could go on the offensive. Nevertheless, I think he could have done much better on directly attacking some of the questionable "facts" that Bush introduced to support his stance. For instance, numerous numerical facts [like the once on Afghanistan that Bedrock has pointed out] were dubious at best, or outright false at worst. Kerry obviously failed to do his homework on these facts, otherwise he would have been in a better position to question them directly. I must say I was bitterly disappointed at the whole debate itself, though. This was supposed to be a major debate on foreign policy, and I uderstand Iraq shares a huge pie on US foreign policy at the moment. But they should have at least touched on variety of other global issues that are important too, like the environment/global warming, AIDS, third world debt/aid, trade, relations with Latin America, human rights, etc. Jim Lehrer and the producers/organizers of an AMERICAN PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE could, and should, have done more to distinguish themselves from ordinary Americans, who have the image of being excessively self-centered and of having extremely narrow view of the world.