President Bush (right) and Senator John Kerry wave as they enter the stage before the third and final presidential debate in Tempe, Arizona, on Wednesday. (Photo: AP Photo/Matt York)

Thursday, October 14—It was tax cuts vs. education in the third and final presidential debate Wednesday night. Both Senator John Kerry and President George W. Bush took every opportunity to tout their favorite subjects.

The surprise was in the switch. The Republican President repeatedly plugged his No Child Left Behind Act—an education bill and a traditionally Democratic issue. John Kerry returned often to the subject of tax cuts—a strong Republican issue.

The two presidential candidates met at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, where the debate centered on domestic issues like health care and education. CBS News correspondent Bob Schieffer, the moderator, grilled the candidates for 90 minutes. Schieffer wrote the questions, unlike the second debate, when undecided voters in the audience quizzed the candidates. The format was similar to the first debate in that candidates stood behind podiums.

Kerry promised to roll back Bush's tax cut for the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans. He also said he would reinstate the "pay as you go plan" in Congress. "To pass something in Congress, you had to show how to pay for it," Kerry said. "Bush took that away."

"His rhetoric doesn't match up to his record," Bush shot back. "Pay/go means you pay and he spends." Bush itemized Kerry's 20-year voting record in the Senate, saying he voted 98 times to increase taxes. "He voted to violate the budget cap 277 times," Bush continued.

"Anybody can play with these votes," Kerry replied. "Everybody knows that. I have supported or voted for tax cuts over 600 times." He then brought up the difference in the amount of money the government spends vs. the amount of money it collects in taxes—the budget deficit. The government is trillions of dollars in debt, which means it spends more money than it has. "Being lectured by the President on fiscal responsibility is a little bit like [TV mobster] Tony Soprano talking to me about law and order in this country," Kerry said.

Debate Watchers

At Fordham University in New York City, students at a DebateWatch party snacked on chips and soda while lounging around in their sweats and slippers. While most were already Kerry supporters, some strongly supported Bush.

"After watching the first two debates, it is more clear for me that if I had to choose, I would vote for Bush," said Monica Delcanto, 21, of Italy. "Kerry gave me a bad impression. He just kept saying that Bush messed up everything and that he can fix everything."

For the students who were anti-Bush, but not necessarily pro-Kerry, the debate helped them make a final decision.

"The more I hear about what Kerry has to say about the issues, the more I think he is for someone like me," said Jane Sylvester, 20.

Erin Moore, 22, was already a Kerry supporter, but the debate made her certain. "The first debate I didn't think either one was very charismatic," she said. "This one I thought Kerry really solidified most of his arguments and spoke more eloquently." Bush also did well, she thought, because he "can talk to people they way they talk."

But even with all the candidates' efforts, some voters were unconvinced.

"I would say that I was not persuaded," said Patrick Smith, 21. "I still support the Green Party candidate, David Cobb. Nothing I've seen from Senator Kerry has convinced me to vote for him."

Voters who are still undecided will have to do their own research on the candidates and the issues. No more debates are planned between now and Election Day, which is less than three weeks away.