Lawrence residents give personal debate reactions
In taverns, schools and watch parties across Lawrence, friends, classmates and others gathered Thursday night to watch the first face-to-face encounter of the major party’s presidential candidates since the nominating conventions.
Kelly Barker, teacher of U.S. and international politics, sponsored a debate-watch party at Free State High School, 4700 Overland Drive. The 45 students who attended stayed for a group discussion after the debate. The group, which Barker estimated was 60 percent to 70 percent pro-Kerry, decided Kerry narrowly won the debate.
At Kaspar’s Bar and Grill, 3115 W. Sixth St., more people may have turned out for poker night than the debate, but political junkies still filled four tables.
Red Lyon Tavern, 944 Mass., also showed the debate, which several people watched from tables closest to the bar’s big-screen television.
Here’s a sampling of reactions from people at those venues:
Anna Eskilson, 17, Lawrence, FSHS senior, Democrat: “I’m tired of hearing my family talk about politics. One side is all Democrats and the other Republicans. I just wanted to hear informed discussion.”
Anna Eskilson
Bill Berkowitz, 18, Lawrence, FSHS senior, who described himself as an “ardent Democrat”: “I think Kerry is winning.”
Steve Guinn, 49, Lawrence, a holistic health practitioner who described himself as “anti-Bush”: “I thought Kerry looked professional and had good answers. He kept Bush on the defensive.”
Bill Berkowitz
Jess Edie, 27, Lawrence, cocktail waitress at Kaspar’s and a Kerry supporter: “I think Kerry is doing a lot better with being straight than Bush. Overall, he’s been a lot straighter with his answers.”
Julie McGinn, 18, Lawrence, FSHS senior and a “big Republican” noted midway through the debate: “It’s hard to say who’s winning.”
Steve Guinn
Kelly Hartford, 17, Lawrence, FSHS senior and “very pro-Bush: “Came to watch the debates because I knew there would be a lot of students here with opposing points of view.”
Trina Baker, 36, Lawrence, bartender at Red Lyon, pro-Kerry: “John Kerry was very precise in his answers and had more substance in his speech and refuted George Bush quite well.”
Jess Edie
Deb Drummet, 46, Lawrence, mortgage lender: “I think that John Kerry got rid of a lot of the misconceptions of him. He gave a really good impression that he knows what he’s talking about. He did an excellent job.”
Tom Conroy, 46, Lawrence, owner of Kaspar’s: “Kerry did a fine job and looked presidential. … I think Kerry might have changed some middle-of-the-road people.”
Julie McGinn
Cami Kennedy, 28, Lawrence, registered nurse at Lawrence Memorial Hospital and Kerry supporter: “I thought Kerry won. He’s a superior debater.”
Linda Gwaltney, 54, Lawrence, auditor and Kerry supporter: “Kerry won by a landslide. He was articulate, and Bush made up a couple new words.”
Kelly Hartford
Paula Schumacher, 43, Lawrence, business analyst and Kerry supporter: “The overall impression I got is that Bush can’t think on his feet.”
Trina Baker
Deb Drummet
Tom Conroy
Cami Kennedy
Linda Gwaltney
Paula Schumacher
How would you score the debates — an interactive poll
6News video: Residents react to presidential debate (09-30-04)City Government
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