Show Debate Highlights Differences Dan Balz The Washington Post It was no surprise that Iraq dominated the first debate between President Bush and Democratic challenger John Kerry Thursday night but rarely have the differences between the two men and the choices for the country country- been stated so clearly and with such passion Bush and Kerry differed on almost every aspect of the war in Iraq and on other major foreign policy issues such as North Korea and Iran They disagreed over whether former president Hussein posed a serious threat to the United States atthe at atthe atthe the time Bush took the country country country coun coun- try to war there They disagreed disagreed disagreed dis dis- agreed on whether it was did right to go to war as Bush They differed on whether the president has a plan to secure the peace And they parted company on whether the certitude certitude certitude Bush has displayed as president has advanced US U.S. security or weakened it If Republicans had hoped i 4 v. v Bush could put Kerry away with a strong performance on terrain that has been his strongest suit they are likely to be disappointed as the challenger constantly challenged challenged challenged chal chal- the president to answer for his policies Both men accomplished many of the goals their advisers had set out in the days before the debate and probably reinforced reinforced reinforced rein rein- forced the strong backing each already has amOl among g his most committed supporters But for those voters who remain undecided Bush and Kerry may have only whetted appetites for their two remaining debates of This was a debate shorn gimmicks gaffes canned one-liners one gotcha moments or even many lighthearted asides It was as serious as the times in which this campaign is being waged Bush and Kerry Kent gave as good as they got and laid out for the country country country coun coun- try a choice between Bushs Bush's determination to stay on the See Debate Highlights continued on page 8 1 t A Debate Highlights continued from front course he has been following in Iraq or what Kerry said would be a genuine change in the direction of policy there Bush appeared defensive at the start of the minute 90 debate and at times the camera caught him scowling or frowning as Kerry relentlessly attacked his record on Iraq But as the debate continued he made a passionate defense of the values that are at the foundation of his foreign policy taking the fight to terrorists terrorists terrorists terror terror- and spreading freedom across the planet Kerry Kerry WhO was hb lio was fi great em r i er- er form well repeatedly pres presented His case se the president has led the country astray and that only a change in leadership can change the equation in Iraq and attract the support of other countries to share more of the burden He also sought to answer doubts about himself by trying to show that he would be equally resolute in fighting the war on terror albeit in ina a different way Instant polls judged Kerry the clear winner but Kerry came into the debate knowing he had to begin to undo the damage the Bush campaign has inflicted on him and reverse public perceptions that Bush is better equipped to deal with Iraq and the battle against terrorists and that the president is far more likable personally Whether he began to reverse those perceptions perceptions perceptions wont won't be clear immediately His demeanor may have helped to counter the inage ge Bushs Bush's ads have tried to create but he hes s little contra t dictions p positions on Iraq and may have more work to do on that front in the next two debates For 90 minutes Bush and Kerry stood opposite each other on the campus of the University of Miami and described strikingly different approaches to the world and sharply contrasting portraits of each others other's character For the two men foreign policy was defined almost exclusively through the prism of Iraq with no discussion at all of the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians Middle East oil Saudi Arabia and Pakistan Bush repeatedly tried to undermine Kerry as someone who has shifted with the political winds on Iraq Kerry challenged Bushs Bush's record in Iraq as indefensible Kerry faced the more daunting challenge going into Thursdays Thursday's debate given the state of the presidential race that has shown Bush in inthe inthe inthe the lead and his advisers advisers' were looking for the of c that wo would ld begin to tto change the bf of the campaign heading into the next debate on Oct 8 But Bush also came to the debate with obstacles principally the mounting bloodshed in Iraq and the strength of the insurgency there and he needed needed needed need need- ed to keep Kerry on the defensive as much as possible The days day's bloody events in Iraq in which a series of attacks left more than 40 Iraqis dead- dead many of them served children only to highlight highlight highlight high high- light the importance of Iraq in the presidential election and to frame for debate viewers the competing visions of Bush and Kerry for dealing dealing dealing deal deal- ing with the situation there Bush portrayed Kerry as a politician without without without with with- out core convictions who has repeatedly changed his mind and said that by describing Iraq as the wrong war had called into question question question ques ques- tion his ability to lead US U.S. troops or rally the world Kerry described Bush as unwilling to acknowledge the r realities s pf iW Iraq that experienced nother blo bloody dy da day daSt and who has made a series from rushing to war to failing to develop a plan for peace to shattering relations with US U.S. allies When PBS PBS' Jim Lehrer the moderator asked Bush toward the end of the debate whether there were any character flaws in Kerry that would disqualify the challenger from serving as commander in chief Bush said He changes positions on something as fundamental as what you believe in your core in your heart of hearts is right in Iraq You cannot lead if you send mixed messages Mixed me messages sages send the wrong signals to our troops Mixed messages send the wrong signals signals signals sig sig- sig- sig nals to our allies Mixed messages send the wrong signals to the Iraqi citizens When he got his turn to respond Kerry said Im not going to talk about a difference of character I dont don't think that's my job or my business But let me talk about something that the president just sort of finished up with Maybe someone would call it a character trait maybe somebody But this issue of certainty Its It's one thing to be certain but you youcan youcan youcan can be certain and be wrong I have a difference with this president he said I believe when were we're strongest when we reach out and lead the world and build strong alliances I have a plan for Iraq I believe we can be successful Im I'm not talking about leav leav- ing Im I'm talking about winning And we need a fresh start a new credibility a president who can bring allies to our side But when Kerry said he doubts that Bush really sees the deterioration in Iraq the president president dent challenged Kerry's ability to find find find-a a strategy strategy strategy strat strat- egy that would work given his stances on the war warI I dont don't see how you can lead this country to succeed ed in if Iraq you say wrong war wrong time wrong place he said What message does that send our troops What message message message mes mes- sage does that send to our allies What message message message mes mes- sage does that send the Iraqis No the way to win this is to be steadfast and resolved and to follow through on the plan that Ive I've just out out- lined Bush has maintained a small but steady lead over Kerry in 10 the national polls since the Republican National Convention in New Y York rk In In addition Kerry's campaign has gradually withdrawn from a number of states they had targeted as p potential pickups narrowing his electoral elector l options as the campaign heads toward its final month S Kerry partisans said immediately after the debate that they ey were pleased with his performance performance mance while Bush backers said they were confident that as long as the campaign remans remains focused on foreign policy the debate will benefit benefit ben ben- the presIdent Few s strategists ts believed that this first of three presIdential debates will by itself fundamentally fun fun- change the shape of the e campaign but for 8 voters wondering whether the choice i is as s stark a as the two sides had been It the sessIOn provided portraying s sets ts the a resounding answer I It stage stag for what promises to be cious ious CIOUS a ferocious fero- fero campaign over the thes next 4 2 1 weeks r |