Tonight, Mr. Kerry and Mr. Bush will face off in the first of three debates. Both parties have great expectations for their man. The partisans and political operatives are out in full force, cornering any media folks to chat up how well their side will do tonight.

Most people know that these debates are not really "debating," at least not in the classic definition of the word, but putting aside all the media hype and spin, and especially all the partisan nonsense, what real difference will these debates have on the outcome of the election?

Most of the polling results show a rough average of undecided voters at 7%.  With only 33 days left to Election '04 will either candidate be persuasive enough to move this group into their camp? 

What can Mr. Kerry or Mr. Bush say tonight that will be any different than what has already been said over and over throughout this campaign?  Do we really expext to hear any major policy changes tonight? 

Lacking a major gaffe by either canidate tonight I just don't see poll numbers moving by any large percentage.