10/08/2004 06:01:45 PM|||Nathan Moore|||

It sounds silly to say, because it is so obvious, but the debate tonight matters.

The failure of the Bush team to push the candidate to strike Kerry where he's weakest last weak has increased the stakes to the point that the money line on the second debate is on Bush. What could have been a campaign killer, the President instead played safe, allowing the crank politics practiced by his opponent to appear as serious alternatives to sound policy. Anyone paying attention knows otherwise - unfortunately, the debates matter precisely because there are so many "undecideds" who have in fact not paid attention. Only when one commandeers all the networks for 90 minutes can you get America to pay attention to what they should be thoroughly familiar with already. Bush must be positive, but forceful, with minimal talking points. Talking points simply won't cut it.

Bush has to appear in command - if he doesn't, the third debate (talk about overkill) certainly will not matter, and the hole will be tough to climb out of.

|||109727686505294944|||It Matters