Debate expectations

If the Gallup poll below is accurate, Americans think Bush will lose tonight's debate.

Does this mean Bush has "won" the expectations game, and that anything perceived as a tie or better benefits the President? Perhaps not. Registered voters (or at least the 515 registered voters polled by Gallup) called the second debate a draw, but there was certainly no perceptible poll bump for Bush.

±5 pct. pt. margin of error
Oct. 9-10, 2004
Sample size = 531
National adults