JoeTrippi.com

I had my doubts pre-debate but John Kerry surprised a lot of people tonight – including me. Why this guy waits til the last days of a campaign to show this fighting side is beyond me— but it seems to work for him and it worked for him tonight.

The “colossal error in judgement” line of attack will be in the lead of most newspapers tomorrow if they have any news sense left.

I thought that George Bush would try to keep Kerry bogged down in the past, Gulf War I, as an example— it never happened. Instead Kerry did what he had to do: he turned the debate into “more of the same” vs “change”, and George Bush played right into it with his “we are doing everything we can” attitude vs Kerry’s “We can do better”.

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It’s eerily calm here in Miami, the wind of hurricane Jeanne has withered and in its stead, left a gaggle of national press in neon lit hotels waiting for tonight’s Presidential debate between George Bush and John Kerry.

Despite the carefully agreed upon rules, which offer a safety net of sorts to both campaigns, anything can happen in a debate. And if something happens in a debate it is usually a mistake by one of the candidates. Pithy lines are planned and scripted, but blunders become magnified. Big time blunders, when they occur in front of millions of people, become voters spending the next morning exclaiming “What was he thinking?” to co-workers around the water cooler at work, or across the neighbor’s fence at home.

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Joe Trippi will appear tonight at 7pm ET on MSNBC’s “Hardball with Chris Matthews” live from the University of Miami to discuss tonight’s first Presidential Debate between Senator John Kerry and Resident George W. Bush. Be sure to tune in, check it out, and post your comments here.

7-9 p.m. ET: “Hardball with Chris Matthews: Presidential Debate,” live from the University of Miami.

9-10:30 p.m. ET: First Presidential Debate of 2004.

10:30 p.m.-12 a.m. ET: “Hardball” post-debate analysis.

12-2 a.m.ET: “After Hours” hosted by Joe Scarborough and Ron Reagan.

As always, tune in, log on, and let us know what you think in the comments.

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I just found out that I am going to be heading down to Florida this week to help cover the big debate between John Kerry and George Bush that will be held in the multi-hurricane hit state.

Many following the campaign, if not most, expect a debate about current and future foreign policy and defense issues, but I suspect that this debate will get mired in the past almost from the start. And I do not mean the past of Vietnam or questions about National Guard duty.

The likely target for George Bush to launch his attack will be John Kerry’s “NO” vote against Gulf War I.

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I’m supporting Lisa Witter for American Candidate (on the Showtime reality TV series – see below for more information) and I want you to support her as well.

As you may know, I appeared in an early episode of the show. I am extremely impressed by Lisa’s conviction, persistence and passion.

Here’s what I need you to do.

For the first time in the series, the public will vote to narrow the field from three to two candidates on Showtime’s The American Candidate this coming Sunday, September 26th at 9pm EST.

With one progressive Democrat (Lisa Witter), one anti-Choice/anti-gay/pro-Iraq War Republican and one progressive independent, this “election” may be a preview for the real election on November 2nd, offering viewers the chance to vote now to elect a leader most closely aligned with their values and issue positions.

Lisa has made it to the final 3 and she needs your help to make it to the final two. You can help her this week by calling a toll-free number or by sending a text message. The numbers will be announced on air at 9:45pm EST and at lisawitter.blogspot.com or www.americancandidate.com. YOU DO NOT NEED TO WATCH SHOWTIME TO VOTE! It’s one vote per phone number.

The public will be able to vote for exactly 2 hours after the airing of the episode on each coast. That is, the polls will be open from approximately 9:45pm EST until approximately 11:45pm EST following the East Coast airing, and again from approximately 9:45pm PST until approximately 11:45pm PST following the West Coast airing. (Many of you on the West Coast can watch the East Coast airing at 6:00 pm PST on satellite.)

Lisa is the only pro-choice, progressive Democratic candidate left in the race. There is still a right-wing “Christian Coalition” conservative in the race who is now being helped by the GOP and Focus on the Family — we cannot allow him to win!

Please support my friend Lisa by voting on Sunday night and PLEASE PASS THIS MESSAGE ON to everyone you know.

To learn more about Lisa and her positions CLICK HERE.

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Joe Trippi will appear on MSNBC’s Hardball “Horserace” tonight at 7pm ET. Be sure to tune in, check it out, and post your comments here.

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Hardball “The Horserace” is tonight, and I am going to be talking with Chris about who is using the Net and the Blogosphere better— Kerry or Bush?

What’s pretty clear to me is that activists and the grassroots of both parties understand the power they have gained through the Internet far better then either campaign has come to understand that power. But on the whole I give the grassroots/netroots advantage to Democrats and the Kerry campaign. There simply is much more energy and creativity going on at the grassroots level on the Net and Blogs on the side of Democrats.

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