Kerry Won Debate

[Truthseeker420]

Oct. 1 (Bloomberg) -- Democratic challenger John Kerry beat President George W. Bush in their first debate, according to three instant surveys and undecided voters in a focus group run by Republican pollster Frank Luntz.

Instant polls by the Gallup Organization, ABC News and CBS News found Kerry ahead by as much as 16 percentage points on the question of who won the debate. Five of the 18 voters in the focus group said they moved from undecided to supporting Kerry, Luntz said in a press release. None switched to Bush.

Kerry said Bush's decision to invade Iraq was a ``colossal error of judgment.'' Bush countered that Kerry is sending mixed messages to the world after voting to authorize the use of force in Iraq. The 90-minute debate yesterday at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, was the first of three scheduled meetings between the two candidates.

``This was the first time in this campaign that Kerry stood side by side with Bush, and he looked presidential,'' Luntz said. Swing voters ``think he dominated the confrontation.''

Luntz, who helped former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Republicans gain control of Congress in 1994, said 16 of the 18 voters in his group considered Kerry the winner. Thirteen said they ``agreed'' more with Kerry than his Republican opponent.

Kerry Won Debate, Instant Polls and Focus Group Find (Update5) - Bloomberg

And Kerry didn't have to lie...