The presidential debates are over, but some in Lawrence who watched John Kerry and George W. Bush go face to face for the last time Wednesday night still expect a close finish on Election Day.

“No matter what happens tonight, I think it is still going to be neck-and-neck,” said William Papa, a Kansas University senior from Overland Park.

Papa and three other KU students watched the debate on a big projection screen in a classroom at the Student Recreation and Fitness Center, as part of the campus DebateWatch discussion program. The room was unanimously pro-Kerry.

“He (Kerry) is so much taller they’ve zoomed in on Bush,” said Julia Katz, a recent KU graduate. “Look how much bigger his face is.”

Sitting nearby, Trisha Shrum, an Olathe senior, also poked fun at Bush.

“Bush is flip-flopping his style reaching for a method to lash out against Kerry,” Shrum said.

The classroom wasn’t the only place in the fitness center where students were watching the debate, which was held in Tempe, Ariz. All of the television screens in the workout areas also were tuned to the debate.

Miriam Hillmer pumped iron on the seated leg press bench while the debate played on screen across the room.

“I’ve been watching it a little bit,” said Hillmer, a Lawrence graduate student. “Everytime Bush makes a comment I yell at him.”

Kansas University student David Wiese, a Chapman sophomore, works out at the KU Student Recreation Fitness Center during the final presidential debate. TVs were tuned to the debate at the rec center Wednesday, allowing students to watch the debate live as they work out.

At the Old Chicago restaurant, 2329 Iowa, more than 30 people gathered in the back room where the Douglas County Democratic Party was holding a debate party.

Moments before the debate started, Karen Roberts said she hoped polls after the debate would show Kerry at last in the lead and that he would stay there. She said she thought the debates had allowed Kerry to earn more confidence from the American people. But she also questioned the accuracy of polls that have continued to show Bush and Kerry about even.

“I’m not sure I really trust the polls,” said Roberts, 39, of Lawrence. “It seems like races are always close, and I don’t believe every election is a dead heat.”

James Owen, who also attended the Democratic Party get-together, said it was important this time for Kerry to emphasize his Senate record on domestic issues and talk about his plans as president.

“He needs to lay out his plans on health care and explain what he wants to do in his tax plan,” Owen, 26, of Lawrence, said.

At least one Republican crashed the Democratic Party’s event. Jonathan Ng, former KU student government president and now a law student, had come with a Democratic friend. He said Bush should attack Kerry’s liberal record.

How do you rate the candidates? – third presidential debate scorecard Third presidential debate results 6News video: Election enters home stretch with third debate Domestic issues hammered home Students exercise right to criticize president Both candidates stretch facts during final debate Voting test fails in Florida Vote early: Advance ballots can now be cast (10-13-04) More in Election 2004

“He should get away from talking about Kerry being a ‘flip-flop,’ because that’s wearing off,” Ng said.

At Lawrence High School, students in government instructor Paul Stuewe’s class met for a night session to watch the debate. Seniors Haven Bouton and Michelle Cogan favored Bush, but they also said both candidates were doing well in the last debate.

“I think Bush is doing the best he’s done,” Cogan said.

Bouton and Cogan, however, said they were stunned when Kerry made a reference to Vice President Dick Cheney’s lesbian daughter while talking about gay issues.

“I think that was kind of below the belt,” Bouton said.