I can't believe you thought Bush won the first debate. He jumped up and down, asking for a chance to respond to Kerry and then when he was given the chance he stood there with a blank look on his face.

Kerry clearly won on both substance and style. It was his first chance to be seen standing shoulder to shoulder with the sitting president, and not only did he fend of Bush's attacks, he riled the president up and managed to induce him into making himself look like a fool.

The economist's description of Bush's demeanor was right on:

"He stood there, scowling, with drooped shoulders and mouth pulled tight, listening to Mr Kerry with all the attention and pleasure of a man clenching a dollar bill between his buttocks."

Yeah, but I expected that from Bush. I expected a lot from Kerry & didn't see much of it. Bush therefore met expectations, Kerry didn't.