MY COLLEAGUE TOM PLANK emails that I’m wrong about this debate: “Damn. I think this is the best debate of the three, and I think both candidates are doing well. [Which means that Kerry is doing about the same or a little better as the first debate, and Bush is doing much better than the first debate.]”

It’s improved since the very lame first half-hour.

UPDATE: Stephen Green disagrees:

This thing is, mercifully, two-thirds over. Kerry is doing what Bush did in the first debate. He’s smirking “off” camera, he’s droning, he’s dull. Bush, no matter how boring I find the material, at least sounds passionate. Problem is, other than intoxicated political junkies like me, who the hell is still watching?

I’m not intoxicated! Yet.