Friday, Oct. 1, 2004 | 11:02 a.m.
Area Republicans and Democrats strongly agreed on at least one point after the Thursday night presidential debate: Their candidate won.
Applause, laughter, moans and groans rolled through the local Republican and Democratic debate-watching parties as the party faithful reacted in partisan style during the 90-minute debate.
The 40 or so Republicans crowded into the state party headquarters at Sahara Avenue and Durango Drive laughed when John Kerry said he's only had one position on the war in Iraq, and erupted in applause when President Bush fired back that the only thing consistent about his opponent's position has been its inconsistency.
The crowd moaned as the Democratic senator from Massachusetts made reference to his service in Vietnam, and gave thunderous applause when the Republican president said he would strengthen homeland defense, intelligence gathering, and stay on the offensive in the fight against terrorism.
At Timbers on Tropicana Avenue about 300 Democrats cheered and laughed when Bush paused and then defended his foreign policy objectives, by saying: "I just know how this world works."
The crowd loudly applauded the Democrat when he said, "We didn't need to rush to war without a plan to win the peace."
Nevada is widely regarded as a battleground state in the presidential election, and a recent Las Vegas Sun/KLAS TV Channel 8/KNPR Nevada Public Radio poll showed Bush leading Kerry, although falling short of a majority. According to the poll, Bush would receive 47 percent of the vote, and Kerry 42 percent. The poll had a margin of error of 4 percent.
Following the Thursday debate, the first of three before the November election, local residents from both parties said they felt their candidate showed he was clearly the stronger of the two.
Former Democratic Gov. Bob Miller said Kerry was superior in style and substance.
"If the war in Iraq had been won as decisively as Kerry beat Bush, than we wouldn't be losing lives over there," he said.
After the debate, many in the crowd gathered around Theresa Heinz Kerry's son Chris Heinz, who said his stepfather was clear and strong on his policies.
"He left no doubt he would pursue the terrorists and kill them," Heinz said.
Heinz said the president was at times "testy" and "arrogant," and he refused to admit to his mistakes.
Gov. Kenny Guinn said there wasn't much new in the debate but said Kerry said he had a plan for Iraq.
"I still don't know what the plan is, except to speed up training of the police in Iraq," he said.
He said he did not think the debate changed the minds of many.
"This is coming down to a close race and will be decided in the last 30 days," he said. "I don't put much importance on the debates. I don't know if anybody won the presidency of the United States based on a debate."
Arthur Mahan, a 63-year-old retired Las Vegas resident, said he was also upset by Kerry's speaking against the Vietnam War while it was still going on more than 30 years ago, and he accused Kerry of "flip-flopping."
"Kerry was flip-flopping tonight, on voting for the war and then changing his mind," Mahan said.
Chris Carr, acting director of the Nevada Republican Party, said the debate provided no surprises, and alone probably wasn't enough to sway any voters.
"The president did a good job, but we know where both candidates stand on the issues," Carr said.
The debate gave voters a clear look at the differences between the candidates, Reps. Jon Porter and Jim Gibbons said.
Kerry is trying to convince the public that he favors a strong military when his long voting record in the Senate proves otherwise, Gibbons said.
Bush has articulated a clear plan to win the peace, Gibbons said.
"No matter how you cut it, it's not going to be easy, and it's going to take time," Gibbons said. "But at least we are heading down that path."
Porter agreed, saying Bush's plans for elections and Iraqi troop training show a clear vision.
Kerry is "demoralizing these troops with that rhetoric for political gain," Porter said.
Kerry gave a polished performance but Bush showed clarity and strength, Porter said.
Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., said both candidates presented themselves well, with President Bush coming off as "a very forceful leader who knows what he believes in."
Ensign said he was surprised Kerry relied a lot on his service in the Vietnam war, which he also did during the Democratic National Convention in Boston.
He said Kerry offered nothing new tonight and "didn't make it clear where he stood."
Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Kerry was "very specific" on what he wanted to do and that he understands there are problems all over the world and other countries need to help the United States in rebuilding Iraq.
"The president was almost frightened there with some of the questions," Reid said. "This debate helped John Kerry significantly."
Bush was surprisingly defensive, Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., said.
"The smirk is back," she said.
Berkley said Kerry proved that he is not the flip-flopper on issues that Bush has tried to make him out to be.
"We saw the John Kerry that we nominated," Berkley said. "Strong. Knowledgeable. Not only did he look like a president and a commander in chief, he sounded like one."
Sun reporters Cy Ryan, Benjamin Grove and Suzanne Struglinski contributed to this story.
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