Most of the critics feel that Kerry kicked some serious butt. I only watched about half and while I agree, I'm really freaking biased.
Anyways, Bush was as usual tripping over his words and using the same clichés over and over, while Kerry was extremely well prepared, and I felt presented a clear message, and if the American public doesn't understand his stance on Iraq now, they never will. I was listening to an American radio broadcast afterward and they said the pundits are predicting the polls to jump in Kerry's favour, although how long this last, or should we say, how long he can avoid the mud flinging from the Republican camp, is anyone's guess.
The thing that I find particularly funny - "which man will best protect America from another 9/11?" Uh, how about, neither/both? This is such an absurd question in my mind, and yet people keep repeating it. I realize that this is a serious issue for Americans and Westerners as a whole, but one man cannot save anyone from the security holes that allowed that attack to happen. Only pouring more money into the various services and organizations associated with "homeland security" (sounds so Evil Empire to me) will shore up the metaphorical walls. Kerry made some excellent points as well, including about how 95% of cargo shipments in and out of the USA are still not scanned in any form (I don't know where he got this but if it's true, wow), and I think that really speaks for Bush's agenda. Also Kerry brought up the rich-boy tax cut and Halliburton, which I hope hit home for some people.