Bush stumbled on the second question - "I don't plan to lose this election" - but his rebuttal to the third question was forceful and back on message. Weirdly, Kerry nodded along and even mouthed something (on the split screen).

Now Bush is hitting his stride (finally) midway through question #4. Kerry's response: "rush to war" and "plan to win the peace" and "families buying body armor."

Bush correctly asked for an extension and hammered back on Kerry's "cut and run" statement.