CNN reports that a new poll shows Kerry taking the lead over Bush.

Sen. John Kerry appeared to gain more momentum heading toward November 2, easily beating President Bush in the third and final debate, a poll taken late Wednesday night suggests. A CNN/USA Today/Gallup snap poll taken immediately after the presidential debate found that respondents gave a significant edge to Kerry over Bush, 52 percent to 39 percent. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points.

Former Dean campaign manager Joe Trippi made an interesting comment on MSNBC last night. He said that Kerry is pivoting again, like he did in Iowa, to come up from behind and take the lead. By the time he does it, it's too late to stop him. (I'm sure I'm mangling the comment, but I remember the word "pivot" and the gist of what he said.)

Kerry has slowly been building trust and credibility with the American people. They have had a chance to see him now, three times. He stands erect,, he's calm--almost Zen-like as Markos of Daily Kos would say--he's become Presidential. Bush, on the other hand, has turned into a petulant child, banging on the podium, raising his voice, grinning that false grin.

Kerry needs to keep the momentum going. if he can do that, I think we will have a new President. Which means we get a new Attorney General. What a relief that will be.

It's been three months since the Supreme Court ruled that the detainees at Guantanamo have a right to a hearing to determine their enemy combatant status. Lawyers for the detainees say the Government is dragging its feet:

Of the 68 alleged al Qaeda and Taliban fighters who have so far petitioned for access to federal court in Washington, only a handful have even spoken to their lawyers. With some held for nearly three years on the U.S. Navy base, the detainees remain largely precluded from receiving legal help because of protracted negotiations with the Justice Department over lawyers' security clearances, the government's insistence on monitoring attorney-client conversations and the number of visits lawyers will be allowed, defense attorneys told a U.S. District Court judge yesterday.

Throughout the debate, Bush was seen taking notes on a piece of paper at his podium. At great risk to life and limb, some Bothans were able to smuggle out the notes and present them so that they are available for everyone to see. They report that many Bothans died to bring you this information ... However, the notes are a scream, so they did not die in vain.

The media coverage of the debate will be unrelenting today. Of the one's I've read so far, here are a few I recommend:

Wherein Bush Turns That Frown Upside Down
James Benett, New York Times

A Crucial Test, But Not Final
Todd Purdy, New York Times

Bush Grins, Spins But He Doesn't Win
Tom Shales, Washington Post

Martha Stewart's lawyers are shopping publishers for her prison diary. This makes sense. Martha could get $5 million or so and use up hours of boring time writing it.

Here's the transcript of tonight's debate.

Now, reaction from the blogosphere:

Josh Marshall:

Kerry looked more presidential than the president. I don't know how else to put it. He seemed collected and forceful through the whole thing. The president, meanwhile, seemed excitable, edgy and sometimes ungrounded. Again and again with the banging the table. Perhaps after one question you can get away with a cocky look of sarcastic disbelief after your opponent stops talking. But not every other time.

Another point struck me as similar to the first debate, very similar. Kerry controlled the tempo of the evening. He kept the president on the defensive. He landed his key points about the budget deficit and the president's avoidance of the job issue several times. On health care there was more of a tussle. But I don't think the president framed the evening in the way he and his advisors wanted -- defining Kerry as an out-of-the-mainstream liberal. He did better at that in debate number two than he did tonight.

Oliver Willis:

I give it to Kerry simply because his ideas don't suck, and he can MAKE COMPLETE FRICKIN' SENTENCES and the fact that the president can't talk without making big giant lies...."What have you learned from your wife?" Why is that question in a presidential debate? Not even relevant. And Bush on his wife: she tells me to stand up straight, talk right -- is she his mom?

Ok, who won.

I think Bush sounded like a child and Kerry seemed most presidential. But the questions were so weak. It was not a good debate.

Update: On line polls:

Fox: Bush (34%) 31,614
Kerry (66%) 61,194

MSNBC: Bush 24%
Kerry: 76%

Taegan Goddard, Poltical Wire:

President Bush was, again, on the defensive from the outset. He spent so much time portraying Kerry as a "Massachusetts liberal" or taking cheap shots, he rarely answered a question directly. When stuck, Bush resorted to sweeping ideological generalizations, in effect saying freedom and tax cuts would solve all of America's problems. When really stuck, he resorted to bad jokes.

By contrast, Kerry was in command of nearly every subject. He was especially strong on the expired assault weapons ban, the minimum wage and homeland security. My only significant criticism is that Kerry rarely explained the details of "my plan," but that's somewhat understandable given the limited time format.

The bottom line is that Kerry not only sounded more presidential, but looked presidential. By this measure, he was the clear winner.

More On line Polls: (Via Political Wire)

Bush expounds on his faith. He's on home territory here. It's all the more scary because there are people at home cheering him for this. It does not belong in our government. Kerry's joining in here. At least he's mentioning other ways of connecting to a higher being.

DaveCullenCO: Bush on God and prayer. He's doing well for his crowd, plus. The mainstream eats this stuff up. Kerry needs to show some warmth on this.
DaveCullenCO: Don't be an Iceman, Don't be and Iceman.
DaveCullenCO: Well at least Kerry is talking about his faith a bit. That helps. But he is doing it as KIND OF an iceman.
DaveCullenCO: Nice job on the loving your neighbor better, though. And good job working in the altar-boy thing earlier.
DaveCullenCO: He's got to convince some people he's not a Godless heathen.

That's what's so scary. He feels the need to join in.

7:53 pm. Bush on Immigration: We have 1,000 more border agents, unmanned vehicles, new equipment. He was a border governor, he knows this stuff he says. He wants a temporary worker card, so long as there is no american willing to do the job.

No amnesty, let's not reward illegal behavior.
Mistake by Kerry - going back to economic issues --and lapsing into statistics. He does that when he's angry.

Kerry on immigration: He'll toughen up our borders. we need to crack down on illegal hiring. An earned legalization program.

Next question: Kerry wants to raise minimum wage. He will fight tooth and nail to pass it.

Good for him.

DaveCullenCO: Karl obviously told Bush, "When you feel a frown coming on, smile." So he's not exactly frowing like the first night, but he's squeezing out the most comical string of goofy smiles, fake smiles, strained smiles, painful smiles . . . Half the time he looks like a kindergarten boy told to smile for the camera who can't figure out how to do it and pulls his cheeks apart while gritting his teeth.

Ok, you go. I'll blog up here, readers take the comment section. 3 minutes to start time.

Theresa and Laura just had a nice greet on the way to their seats. Michael J. Fox is in the audience. Stem cell research is bound to come up.

Cspan has the split screen up.

They are out. Dressed remarkably the same.

Will we ever be safe and secure again. Kerry and Bush both say yes. Bush is very eager tonight.

Compare his statement on Osama tonight with this one from 3/13/02:

Haaretz reports that the overseas place of detention for senior al Qaida operatives being held by the U.S., including Khalid Sheik Mohammed,is in Jordan.

Background here.

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