NEWS CONTACTS Viewers decide who was best

A Mahoning County commissioner attended the debate in Miami.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The first debate between President Bush and U.S. Sen. John Kerry, his Democratic challenger, further convinced some Mahoning Valley residents that they support the right candidate.
But not in every case.
John Farcas of Hubbard, a Democrat who was leaning toward voting for Bush next month, said the debate changed his mind.
"Bush appeared uncomfortable and lacked confidence, and his demeanor appeared that he was angry; not presidential at all," he said. "This debate was certainly a victory for Kerry, and if he does as well in the remaining two debates, Bush is history."
The Vindicator asked its News Contacts to watch Thursday's debate and decide if it changed their minds about which candidate they are supporting or if it made them more positive about their selection.
Common reaction
For the most part, the News Contacts believed their candidate emerged as the winner in Thursday's debate.
John Brezinski of Boardman watched the debate at the Mahoning County Republican headquarters. Brezinski said he was reassured that his decision to switch from being a Democrat to a Republican was the correct one.
"Kerry was too uncomfortable and kept bringing up the same thing he answered before," he said. "Change now is not what we need."
Thaddeus M. Price of Howland also said it would be a mistake for voters to not re-elect Bush. "When you are on the high seas, in these stormy times, you want a competent captain at the helm," he said. "... George W. Bush will be the captain of my ship for four more years."
Joann Kay of Girard said the debate convinced her that her support of Kerry is not a mistake.
"He seemed at ease in presenting his stand on the issues, and offering new solutions to the current situation," she said. "The president kept haranguing Kerry about 'wrong war, etc., and flip-flopping' statements rather than explain his own actions, or defending his decisions."
'Won her vote'
Judy Lazar of Youngstown said Kerry "won her vote with his very decisive answers about the war and his position on how we will get out of the war."
Lazar said Kerry overshadowed the president during the debate.
In the audience at the Miami debate was Mahoning County Commissioner Ed Reese, a member of Kerry's national finance committee. Reese sat in the 16th row and said Kerry did an excellent job introducing himself to the American people, and explaining his position on foreign policy and homeland security.
"He had a chance to clarify his position on Iraq, and he feels the president went into Iraq with the wrong strategy," he said. "Also, by bringing North Korea into the equation, he threw the president off. I wish Kerry would have rerouted the discussion back to North Korea because the president kept going back to Iraq."
skolnick@vindy.com