US Presidential Elections: The American Process (10)
· The presidential debate: Bush vs. Kerry (3)
ACHO ORABUCHI
Dallas, Texas
Friday, October 22, 2004
Well,
the much-awaited third and final round of the American presidential debate
ended without a spectacular knock out to the dismay of many and with a
sigh of relief for some fans depending on which side of the fence you find
yourself. Undoubtedly, the final presidential debate, including all other
debates and stump speeches, seemed to paint a portrait of healthy and
vibrant democracy in action.
The third and final presidential debate, which focused primarily on the domestic and economic policy, was held at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona on Wednesday night, October 13, 2004—twenty days to the Election Day and was moderated by Bob Schieffer of CBS News.
On the eve of the debate, the national polls still showed the presidential race even thereby heightening the stakes of the third debate.
During the debate, the responses to the questions by the candidates indicate that both candidates seemed to target different groups of voters. This was more evident in their two-minute closing statements. Here are the excerpts of the closing statements of both Senator John Kerry and President George Bush:
John Kerry: “My fellow Americans, as you heard from Bob Schieffer a moment ago, America is being tested by division. More than ever, we need to be united as a country.
And, like Franklin Roosevelt, I don't care whether an idea is a Republican idea or a Democrat idea. I just care whether it works for America and whether it's going to make us stronger.
“These are dangerous times. I believe I offer tested, strong leadership that can calm the waters of the troubled world. And I believe that we can together do things that are within the grasp of Americans. We can lift our schools up. We can create jobs that pay more than the jobs we're losing overseas. We can have health care for all Americans. We can further the cause of equality in our nation.”
“Let me just make it clear: I will never allow any country to have a veto over our security. Just as I fought for our country as a young man, with the same passion I will fight to defend this nation that I love.” “And, with faith in God and with conviction in the mission of America, I believe that we can reach higher. I believe we can do better. I think the greatest possibilities of our country, our dreams and our hopes, are out there just waiting for us to grab onto them. And I ask you to embark on that journey with me.”
“I ask you for your trust. I ask you for your help. I ask you to allow me the privilege of leading this great nation of ours, of helping us to be stronger here at home and to be respected again in the world and, most of all, to be safer forever.”
“Thank you. Goodnight. And God bless the United States of America.”
George Bush: “In the Oval Office, there's a painting by a friend of Laura and mine named -- by Tom Lee. And it's a West Texas painting, a painting of a mountain scene.
And he said this about it. He said, "Sarah and I live on the east side of the mountain. It's the sunrise side, not the sunset side. It's the side to see the day that is coming, not to see the day that is gone." I love the optimism in that painting, because that's how I feel about America. And we've been through a lot together during the last 3 3/4 years. We've come through a recession, a stock market decline, an attack on our country. And yet, because of the hard work of the American people and good policies, this economy is growing. Over the next four years, we'll make sure the economy continues to grow.”
“We reformed our school system, and now there's an achievement gap in America that's beginning to close. Over the next four years, we'll continue to insist on excellence in every classroom in America so that our children have a chance to realize the great promise of America. Over the next four years, we'll continue to work to make sure health care is available and affordable.”
Over the next four years, we'll continue to rally the armies of compassion, to help heal the hurt that exists in some of our country's neighborhoods. I'm optimistic that we'll win the war on terror, but I understand it requires firm resolve and clear purpose. We must never waver in the face of this enemy that -- these ideologues of hate. And as we pursue the enemy wherever it exists, we'll also spread freedom and liberty. We got great faith in the ability of liberty to transform societies, to convert a hostile world to a peaceful world.
My hope for America is a prosperous America, a hopeful America and a safer world. I want to thank you for listening tonight.”
“I'm asking for your vote. God bless you.”
The conclusion of the final debate signaled the beginning of the last lap phase of the campaign. Historically, this year’s presidential race has entered into the last lap phase too soon. This phase would witness an intensified internal polling by the presidential candidates with a fixation on the battleground states and the electoral map. The ground and air wars would be in play now with the independent groups saturating the airwaves with negative political ads, especially in the battleground states. As I’ve written earlier, political realities would begin to set in during this period; candidates will not only concede some states during this period, but also would begin to shift and move resources to the states where the resources would be optimized.