"My wife and I are an undecided voters in Florida. My parents are undecided and live in Ohio. My brother and his wife are undecided and live in Pennsylvania.
That is, we all were undecided until we saw the Edwards-Cheney debate this evening. After watching Edwards dismantle Cheney, we have all decided to vote for Kerry-Edwards en masse. And not just the family members I just mentioned; all of my neighbors happened to be undecided and they all told me after the debate that they are going to vote for Kerry-Edwards as well. My family members in Ohio and Pennsylvania report the same thing. In other words, I can say with great confidence that, as a result of the Edwards demolition of Cheney this evening, approximately 600 formerly undecided voters have decided to vote for Kerry-Edwards.
All because Edwards did such a good job tonight."
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The most interesting thing about the opinion stated above is that it popped into the Enquirer's e-mail Letters to the Editor file at 4:58 p.m. Tuesday, more that four hours before the debate between Vice President Dick Cheney and his Democratic challenger, Sen. John Edwards, was scheduled to begin. And it wasn't the only one we got. As hot air goes, this rivals Mount St. Helens.
Both sides started pre-debate spin early Tuesday. Republican campaign leaders asked for help in defeating the "Kerry spin machine." Democratic campaign leaders pushed for an "online coup d'etat," that would swamp blog sites, online polls and letters to the editor pages with support for Edwards over Cheney. Some people obviously got off to a fast start.
"It is important that we double our efforts from the last debate, because the Republicans are now copying our strategy," Democratic National Chairman Terry McAuliffe said in a letter to supporters.
"If we plan to win the election, we must fight back against their spin and make sure our friends and neighbors get the truth," said Bush campaign manager Ken Mehlman in his call for counter spin.
The candidate debates have become an important part of the presidential campaign. They give voters the chance to see the candidates side-by-side and to match them up on the issues word-for-word. They spur supporters on to greater efforts, help sway the undecided and may even change a few minds. They also generate plenty of reader comment to these pages. But please, don't tell us how impressed you were with what the candidates said until after they have said it.
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Have you heard, seen or read a statement for a politician, media personality or other public figure that you think doesn't quite add up? Let us know, and we'll check it out. Call David Wells at (513) 768-8310; e-mail dwells@enquirer.com
