Kerry wins again

I thought last night's debate was about a tie, but polls seem to be putting Kerry slightly ahead:

CNN / USA Today / Gallup: Kerry 52 - Bush 39
ABC News: Kerry 42 - Bush 41
CBS News: Kerry 39 - Bush 25

Several commentators have noted that Bush shifted his approach with each debate the way Gore did in 2000, while Kerry has been solid and consistent, therefore coming across overall as more in control and more presidential.

I also found this to be an interesting example of how Bush is out of touch with working people:

SCHIEFFER: Mr. President, what do you say to someone in this country who has lost his job to someone overseas who's being paid a fraction of what that job paid here in the United States?

BUSH: I say, here's some help, here's some trade adjustment assistance money for you to go a community college in your neighborhood, a community college which is providing the skills necessary to fill the jobs of the 21st century. And that's what I would say to that person.

Bush's approach (help workers retrain into new jobs) is reasonable in theory, and is actually the same approach Bill Clinton advocated. However, the problem is that many of these workers have already retrained into new jobs once or more, and they -- especially those who are middle aged -- are wondering how many times they will have to retrain so they can continue to support their families. Moreover, the corollary to the "education = job" formula has generally been "more education = better job," but that no longer seems to apply for a great many workers. The question now, of course, is whether they'll vote on it.