First Debate Complete

Bush and Kerry Share Jabs on Critical Issues

-With the first debate in the books, certain stances have come forth on key issues in this campaign. John Kerry accused the president of "a colossal error of judgment" in the war on Iraq. Seizing on the main issue of the night, Kerry stated that "I can make America safer than President Bush has made us." Bush's main defense to this accusation was that people "know where I stand" and that the United States must "constantly stay on the offensive." This debate was crucial for Kerry, who trails in the polls. Kerry accused Bush of having no plan for peace in post-war Iraq, while Bush criticized the senator for giving him authority to go to war and then saying it was the wrong choice at the wrong time. Kerry did admit to a mistake he made earlier in the year, when talking about having voted for the $87 billion bill before voting against it, stating that "I made a mistake in talking about the war. But the president made a mistake in invading Iraq." President Bush also accused Senator Kerry of sending "mixed signals," which was quickly rebuffed by Kerry claiming that the president had sent mixed signals on Iraq to the American public. Other issues of the night shifted from nuclear proliferation, to the poverty situation in Sudan, to the situation with hostile North Korea. The next debate will be held on October 8th in St. Louis.