For example, when Kerry called Iraq ?a mistake of judgment? and said he?d bring in more allies, Bush?s response was withering. ?What?s the message [to our allies] going to be: ?Please join us in Iraq. We?re a grand diversion. Join us for a war that is the wrong war at the wrong place at the wrong time??? And that?s Kerry?s long-term problem. Bush can say over and over that the war in Iraq was critical, and that we must win. You can disagree, but it?s at least an intellectually defensible position.

 Kerry says the war was a mistake, claims we were mislead, calls it a diversion. Then he insists, ?we have to be steadfast and resolved, and I am. And I will succeed for those troops, now that we?re there. We have to succeed. We can?t leave a failed Iraq.? But if the war was indeed wrong, and is indeed wrong, then we must pull out. It doesn?t make logical sense to insist that we?ll fight on to win ?the wrong war.?

 All intellectual and logical quibbles aside, the president probably won the election with his responses to two questions.
When moderator Jim Lehrer asked if Iraq has been worth the cost in American lives, Bush showed real emotion. The candidate who?s supposedly so inarticulate painted a moving picture with his words, explaining his painful meeting with war widow Missy Johnson. ?I told her after we prayed and teared up and laughed some that I thought her husband?s sacrifice was noble and worthy. Because I understand the stakes of this war on terror,? Bush said. This moment surely reached some of those wavering ?Soccer Moms? who?ve been wondering if the war in Iraq was really just a war for Halliburton, as they?ve been told so often by Michael Moore and others on the left.

 Later, when Lehrer invited Bush to assassinate Sen. Kerry?s character, the president passed. Instead, he noted that, ?I admire Senator Kerry's service to our country. I admire the fact that he is a great dad. I appreciate the fact that his daughters have been so kind to my daughters.? Kerry responded with nice words of his own. But the message had been sent -- Bush is a real person, not some soul-less ogre who wants to invade and conquer every other nation.

 The candidates also clashed over North Korea, and in weeks to come they?ll cross swords over the economy, jobs, growth and more. If he stays on message, Bush may ?lose? those debates as well. But he?ll be in position to win in November.