It was exactly eight years ago this past Sunday when John Kerry debated George W. Bush on the University of Miami campus in Coral Gables.
The debate was as hyped as this Wednesday night's encounter in Denver. I fondly remember it because I was able to cover it for the Pacifica Radio network. Kerry was the clear-cut winner of that first candidate forum, which focused on foreign policy and homeland security.
A lot of folks compare this November's election to 2004, and at times the analogy is apt; Obama is the extremely vulnerable incumbent up against, well, a Massachusetts stiff — a challenger who has allowed himself to be defined by his opponent, and goes into the first debate trailing in the race.
Kerry excelled in all three debates, and after his strong showing on Sept. 30, the meter moved considerably in his direction, with some polls putting him — for the first time — near the lead over Bush.
But that lead faded. A week before the general election, Bush led Kerry by five points in a Gallup poll, and ended up winning by 2. 5 points.
This article appears in Sep 27 – Oct 3, 2012.