Cheney came into this debate extremely well prepared. His answers were sharp, well-focused, and generally effective. He has gotten high marks from a lot of the TV pundits.
Yet the flash polls and small group reactions seem to be scoring the debate a win for Edwards.
It seems to me that Cheney lost because he was simply too negative. The first thing that struck me about this debate that I commented on was how blantantly Cheney came out in all-out-attack mode. Cheney has high negatives, and simply does not have the personality traits to pull off these attacks without turning a lot of people against him.
Cheney won his debate in 2000 by appearing congenial, surprising the conventional wisdom about him. Tonight, Cheney played to his weaknesses; he was snarling, grating, and when claiming that Edwards had never met him, transparently petty.
Edwards wasn't wonderful, but was able to emphasize his strengths. His sunny personality allows him to pull off attacks that Cheney can't. So while Cheney was better prepared and had a more comprehensive range of responses, his style turned people off. It may not have turned off the media, who are always itching for a fight, but I have a feeling it didn't sit well with America.
Yeah, Edwards constantly bringing up Haliburton was not going negative, but Cheney defending the Bush record was.
I think it is very telling that Edwards honestly couldn't refrain from Kerry, even when he was instructed not too. I think that Kerry thought he was getting a Jack Kennedy and instead got a Dan Quayle.
I must admit, I seriously overestimated Edwards during the primaries.
