Editorial
Round One: an edge for Kerry, a win for voters

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The confident performance was not only presidential, it undercut all the assessments of Kerry's inability to serve in the Oval Office as commander in chief.

Here is another undeniable fact from the debates at the University of Miami. President George Bush overcame a testy first half to acquit himself well. He defended his decision to go war, and repeatedly challenged Kerry about sending mixed messages to terrorists, world leaders and our own military.

One of the more curious sensations of the night was to watch the normally assured president look a bit shell-shocked from the frontal assaults on his leadership, performance and judgment. Kerry was mercilessly direct but never disrespectful or angry.

Given the leaden expectations before another heavily scripted presidential debate, the country was well-served by the intense give-and-take last night. Kerry is not mush; Bush is not dumb.

The debates took place against a bloody backdrop of steadily deteriorating conditions in Iraq. At least 41 people died yesterday, including 34 children, in a car bomb attack. U.S. military casualties now stand at 1,052, with more than 7,500 wounded.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld conceded the violence is "getting worse," but reports say the Pentagon will no longer make public the extent of the insurgency around the country.

Round two of the debates on Oct. 8 at Washington University in St. Louis will be an open town hall with questions from the audience. Jim Lehrer of PBS is a seasoned interviewer, but the less-structured nature of the questions from ordinary citizens may yield revealing moments.

Vice President Dick Cheney and Sen. John Edwards square off next Tuesday at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.

Last night gave voters every reason to look ahead with anticipation. Kerry and Bush offer starkly different styles and views of the world. Best of all, they can articulate the differences.

Here is a radical idea: Suspend the rest of these expensive, bloated campaigns and have the candidates spending more time in front of Americans talking — together.