The other guy sighed

When President Bush leaned over his podium and talked directly into the camera, he had the same firm, squared off look he brings to a presidential address from the Oval Office. When the networks (flouting debate rules) cut to Bush while John Kerry was speaking, the president had the hunched shoulders and the peevish, defensive look of an incumbent under heavy attack.

The cameras demonstrated that Bush cannot hear criticism without frowning, blinking and squirming (he even sighed once). They showed Kerry can control his anger and stay cool but that he cannot suppress his inner, over-eager A student, flashing a bleach-white smile and nodding hungrily at each new question.

The decision to have two podiums of matching height turned out to work against Bush. It cut him at mid-chest, and made him look as if he were in a booth or bunker.

Story continues below this ad

If Bush looked too testy when his opponent spoke, Kerry looked a little too engaged. But he moved gracefully. Bush, who seemed to get tired as the night wore on, repeatedly used the phrase “hard work” to describe the war in Iraq. Kerry repeatedly referred to his first-hand experience sending men into battle in Vietnam, and that seemed to unnerve Bush.

He said he understood that fighting is hard work and added, ‘‘I’ve seen on the TV news how hard it is.’’ —(NYT)