Taegan Goddard's Political Wire

September 19, 2004

Down to the Debates

USA Today says that the presidential election "that has lasted a year and more, cost a billion dollars and divided the nation into two unyielding camps is likely to be settled by this: Two or three 90-minute encounters in college auditoriums.

"The debates."

"Both men are skillful debaters, though in different ways -- Bush is straight-talking and strong, Kerry is knowledgeable and aggressive. They have perfect records: Each has prevailed against highly regarded opponents in every debate critical to his career."

Update: The Washington Post reports the campaigns have agreed to three debates, as was originally scheduled.

Update II: History Wire remembers the 16 year lapse in televised presidential debates after the historic Kennedy-Nixon debates in 1960.

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Taegan D. Goddard is the creator of Political Wire, a political column updated around the clock with the most interesting news, buzz and commentary.

Goddard is also co-author of You Won - Now What? (Scribner, 1998), a political management book hailed by prominent journalists and politicians from both parties. In addition, Goddard's essays on politics and public policy have appeared in dozens of newspapers across the country, including the Washington Post, USA Today, Boston Globe, San Francisco Chronicle, Chicago Tribune, Philadelphia Inquirer and Christian Science Monitor.

This is a personal site and does not necessarily reflect the views of any company, political campaign or advocacy group.

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