A look back on the presidential debates

The final presidential debate is approaching, but before you flip on the pre-debate analysts, take some time to review the previous debates.

The first presidential debate mainly discussed Iraq, the War on Terror and homeland security, with President George W. Bush saying he has, and will continue to serve the country well.

Senator John F. Kerry effectively argued the falsities of the war on terror and nuclear proliferation in the United States. The two main candidates also argued profusely about actions to take concerning nuclear proliferation and the very serious topic of North Korea.

At the debate's conclusion, the candidates were neck and neck in the polls, with Kerry coming out just a smidgeon ahead of Bush. A CNN/USA Today/Gallup survey reflected views that Kerry did a better job in the debate overall, but Bush was more believable. The survey showed that the debate did not change the minds of those who had already decided.

The second presidential debate allowed participation from a live St. Louis audience. Audience members submitted questions ahead of time and from those the debate questions were chosen. Kerry continued answering previous questions instead of focusing on the new questions posed. Bush answered passionately and concisely, while Kerry seemed to repeat himself and return to the same few topics concerning Iraq. At one point, both candidates were asked to look straight into the camera and promise not to raise taxes for the lower and middle classes. Kerry explicitly did so, but Bush, caught up in debating Kerry's tax reduction ideas, forgot to do so.

One topic both candidates originally agreed on was the Patriot Act, but Kerry does not agree with the way the act has been used, while Bush does. Bush seems more passionate about his decisions. In my opinion, if I didn't know anything about the candidates and had only seen the debates, Bush would be in the lead.

Bush said that Kerry's proposed programs for health care, the adding trained troops to the war and increasing job security cannot be effective without raising taxes for everyone, something Kerry promised not to do. Kerry slammed Bush by linking him to the rising price of gas, stating that the president's friends profit from this hike.

The vice presidential debate pushed Senator John Edwards ahead of Vice President Dick Cheney. The candidates also focused on the war in Iraq, but also addressed healthcare; poverty and the American job market. A CBS News poll of undecided voters suggests that Edwards won this debate. Cheney's Web site slip and pointed comments that the democrats aren't credible didn't help him here, though Edwards accusation that Cheney lied during the debate was not very professional either.

Still, both vice presidential and presidential hopefuls have been concentrating on past issues about the "War on Terror" and not on what they actually plan to do should they be elected, or how they will enact their plans.

Domestic and economic issues will be the important focus for this last debate. So tune in tonight to see what the candidates have in store for us in the final presidential debate.