President's armor undented

LAST NIGHT was the most important night in Senator John Kerry's political life. The task was clear. Although polls show him to be even or a bit ahead of President George W. Bush on domestic issues, Kerry trails Bush on the issue of national security. Americans are deeply disturbed about Iraq, which dominated the debate's first hour, and are not convinced that their president is doing a good job. But they aren't sure about Kerry. Kerry argued that he could offer a better deal for American than the used car wreck of Iraq.

Kerry and Bush agreed that Saddam Hussein had been a danger, and that it was necessary to stay in Iraq to bring freedom. But Kerry insisted that the president had taken his eye off the ball, that the main threat always came from Al Qaeda in Afghanistan, and that invading Iraq had been an error of judgment.

After waffling all summer, Kerry's position on Iraq is now clear.

Bush made a telling point by asking Kerry how he could build alliances by asking allies to join in a wrong war in the wrong place at the wrong time. Bush repeated at least a half dozen times that a leader could not afford to send mixed messages.

In the end, it all came down to whether you bought Bush's image of steadfast resolve in the face of a dangerous enemy or Kerry's point that certainty may be fine, but certainty can also be wrong and wrong certainty "can get you into trouble."

Presidential debates can be more about which man is more likable and trustworthy, and last night Kerry seemed tight and drawn compared to the more relaxed Bush. There was very little humor, and less warmth until Bush mentioned how nice Kerry's daughters had been to his girls.

I believe Senator Kerry's position on all the issues -- Iran, Iraq, North Korea, and the Sudan -- were superior to President Bush's, but my guess is that Bush came across as the strong leader he meant to project, and that Kerry did not manage to seriously dent his armor.

H.D.S. Greenway's column appears regularly in the Globe.