61% of Voters say it is very likely they will watch the debates

[Quixote1818]

The tightening race underscores the stakes for both candidates in the upcoming presidential debates. The public remains highly engaged in the campaign: 71% say they have given a lot of thought to the election and 40% are following election news very closely, up from just 22% four years ago.


This increased attentiveness is carrying over into heightened interest in the debates. Six-in-ten voters (61%) say it is very likely they will watch the debates between Bush and Kerry, which is significantly higher than debate interest in the last two elections.

http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=224


With the race all tied up again this election will be decided by the debates and Kerry just has to barely win. Everything is pointing to the fact that the country wants to get rid of Bush but they don't know what to think of Kerry yet. They are torn by all the negative attacks by Bush and Co. but a solid show in the debates will show them that Kerry is actually very sharp and a much better diplomat than Bush. All Kerry has to do is show he is level headed, knows the issues and will be better than Bush no matter how small that edge is. If Kerry can just accomplish ths he will win.

[NJGeek]

1. Lots of pressure on our boy

Let's hope he knocks it out of the park!

[Hello_Kitty]

7. He will

And he's not going to get as much of the 'underdog of the debate' advantage he's had in the past. That whole "golly he did SO much better than we expected!" schtick is wearing a bit thin.

[Hello_Kitty]

8. I'm referring to Bush as underdog, not Kerry. n/t

[lancdem]

2. I agree

Kerry doesn't have to beat Bush to a pulp. He just needs to hold his own.

[Stew225]

4. So maybe he shouldn't pull a Cheney on

Shrub?

[Quixote1818]

14. Yah, it sounds like Cheney's remarks didn't go over too well.

[cheshire]

3. I wonder how that compares to 2000?

[Quixote1818]

11. In 2000 it was 43%

[faithnotgreed]

5. 61% pretty much means all stations will carry the debates now

[whistle]

6. Thanks for posting this, it tells me that we are in an election...

...race again, and that the voting public is not interested in listening to any more nonsence from Bush. This is now be a race about the issues. That is good news.

[EthanAllenVt]

9. Good. Kerry will walk all over this chump

Bush will look like a deer caught in the light of a supernova when Kerry is done with him. Bring it on!

[Bush was AWOL]

10. Kerry needs to put this election away during the debates

and there is no doubt he will as long as the person asking questions is non-partisan.

[tjdee]

12. This means little-- of course voters are watching, what about NONVOTERS??

Half of the country doesn't even vote.
I hope Kerry/Edwards is keeping that in mind. The reason we're fighting over the undecided is because we have not tapped the people who don't vote.

[Quixote1818]

13. You are missing the point 20% more people will watch the debates this year

Thats a HUGE block of people!!!!!

The nonvoters are insignificant compared to the tens of millions who will tune in this year who did not tune in in previous elections.