Could Kerry be a Kennedy?

However, Nixon’s refusal to apply make up before the first televised debate 44 years ago turned out to be a costly blunder. A younger and more charismatic Kennedy outshined the older and experienced politician to walk away from the debate with a four-point lead in tow.

The next of the televised debates that would have a large impact on the elections would come 20 years later, as Ronald Regan took on incumbent Democrat Jimmy Carter.

This year’s election is seen as extremely critical. The presidential debates are expected to attract not only the attention of Americans, but the wider world as well. Because "pro-peace" Kerry trails George W. Bush by anywhere from four to eight points depending on the poll, Kerry’s best chances to gain ground are the televised debates.

Like Kennedy and Regan before him, whether or not Kerry will be able to leave Bush in the dust will be determined by the three presidential debates. The first of them was broadcast last night from Florida. The other two will be held on October 8 and 13.

According to the rules of the debate, presidential candidates cannot directly address each other; instead, they answer a series of questions prepared by the debate’s moderator.

Nearly 50 million people are thought to have tuned into last night’s 90-minute debate that dealt with the topics of the fight against terrorism, homeland security, and Iraq.

Televised debates are an "American fishing hook" for undecided voters.