Survey Says: EDWARDS!

Boston Globe: Oliphant:

THE COUNTRY doesn't need Dick Cheney any more. After his 90 minutes on the stage last night, it is clear he is no longer an essential person in politics and government. What he brings to the table are liabilities.

In debate against an opponent with the dangerously attractive attribute of freshness, Cheney paled -- literally. He's not special, it turns out. He doesn't know anything special, he hasn't done anything special, and for the future he doesn't offer anything special.

Chicago Tribune: Madigan

The decision is in. Another debate victory for the Democrats.

North Carolina Sen. John Edward's courtroom skills, honed as a successful trial attorney, gave him a victory over Vice President Dick Cheney in Cleveland Tuesday night.

LA Times Editorial

The Edwards victory was more lopsided when the debate turned to domestic policy. The Bush administration, Edwards noted, is the first since Herbert Hoover's to preside over a net loss of jobs. Beyond an irrelevant paean to education, the vice president had no response. He seemed similarly at a loss when Edwards proceeded, with Clintonian specificity, to eviscerate President Bush's record on other domestic fronts.

Pudentilla notes that the L.A. Times begins with the very odd assertion that Mr. Edwards's rhetorical skills will not be necessary in the governance of the country. It is our understanding that the ability of politicians to persuade citizens to support their policies is a fundamental requirement of an effective democracy. That has been the case since Demosthenes' day, at the very least. Still, it has been some years since the LA Times Editorial writers have had the opportunity to watch politicians govern in a democratic manner, so perhaps they have simply forgotten.

NY Times: Nagourney

But on Tuesday evening, Mr. Kerry clearly had the advocate he was looking for when he chose this young-looking and relatively inexperienced lawyer from North Carolina to join his ticket; and that is something that Democrats are apt to remember for a long time.

CSM: Marlantes

Cheney was 'serious, sober, even-keeled' but Edwards more than held his own and scored some points as well.