Edwards has a fabulous habit... [View All]

[PurityOfEssence]

He answers questions directly, then elaborates upon them. Instinctively, this is something people like, because it's so atypical of politicians. With John Kerry tonight, you constantly saw him "answering the question he wanted to be asked" and maneuvering himself back onto prepared script, often without EVER answering the question. Even when deftly done, people smell "politician" with this tactic, and it doesn't go down well.

When Kerry was intoning his deflections, one could feel the feeling of the others watching: "You mean THIS is the guy?" It was a stark contrast.

Kerry's mode of speaking is stentorian and professorial: he expects you to listen because his rectitude grants him the right to your attention. Edwards speaks actively to you, and there's no air of pontificating or instruction. America eats that up.

I never did see that "Kerry gone wild" tape he mentioned in one of the debates...