Does Kerry have to "win" the debates?

[Karmadillo]

I noticed William Safire made this claim on Meet the Press yesterday. I'd be willing to bet the liberal media finds his wisdom so compelling it will be unable to resist parroting it for the next several weeks. "Yes, Kerry did well, but by failing to knock Bush out, he lost."

[trotsky]

1. Media is already doing the Gore-Bush thing.

Bar is unbelievably high for Kerry, and correspondingly low for Bush.

Local paper (supposedly "liberal") had a blurb on the upcoming debates and listed out key goals for each candidate in the debates. Kerry, of course, needs to "clearly define himself" etc. Bush's main goal? "Avoid a total disaster."

This is exactly what happened in 2000. When Bush did a horrible job - but didn't self-destruct - he was declared the winner. Because he beat expectations.

[Karmadillo]

3. Bush avoids identifying Brittney Spears as Prime Minister of Great Britain

and manages to refrain from snorting coke during the closing arguments. He wins!!!

[speedoo]

2. Safire never, ever writes anything without a rethug slant.

My opinion:

If, as so many suggest, there are many undecided voters still needing to get to know Kerry, because they know they've had enough of Bush, then Kerry just has to show that he is a plausible alternative. He most certainly does not have to "knock out" the coWard.

I think Kerry has to:

1. Point out the many differences between him and the shrub, particularly on Iraq.

2. Demonstrate that he will protect us and fight the "war on terra" at least as well as the shrub.

If he can get the shrub angry and show the coWard for what he is (petty, immature, borerline unstable) fine, but he does not have to do it.

[2Design]

4. Gore won debates but media crucified him - media is a problem

[Cocoa]

5. Kerry already "lost"

regardless of what happens in the debate, Bush will be declared the winner. It's fixed.

What Kerry has to do is find a way to communicate his superiority to Bush in a way other than "winning or losing." Because he can't win.