Okay, we’ve now got six new post-debate polls.
One shows a very slight Kerry lead: Newsweek (Kerry by +3).
Three are basically a tie: Zogby (Bush +1), CNN/USAT/Gallup (Tied), CBS/NYT (Tied).
Two show a modest but measurable Bush lead: Pew (Bush +5), ABC/WaPo (Bush +5).
We now have enough data to make some general conclusions. Kerry got a big bounce out of the debate. He’s now even or close to even with Bush. With Bush as the incumbent and under 50%, that puts him squarely back in the danger zone. But Kerry clearly still has his work cut out for him. The remaining debates are crucial and beating back the Bush campaign’s ‘Kerry Doctrine’ lies is imperative.
[ed.note: In the numbers above I’ve used ‘likely voter’ numbers where possible and straight Bush-Kerry numbers were possible. I’ll be waiting for Ruy and others to crunch the internals.]
